Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC)

Yes please take your seats. We need to get started we do have a long agenda and I'm hoping we can get out by name but it sort of depends on the length of the questions in that kind of thing so just keep the time in mind. All right another thing that I wanted to the. Another thing I wanted to say is that if you are a member. Please sign in because if you don't sign in. Your alternate can't vote. So. I'm so it's the other way if you sign in skews me. If you signed in and the you leave then your alternate cannot vote so. Just please sign in. All right we are going to start our meeting. The chair sees a quorum. I need a motion to adopt the minutes from the last meeting. All right to have a motion and a second all those in favor say aye. All those against motion passes. All right item D. we have the presentation of our June monthly general revenue report and Mister Wilson if you will go to the table of we would love to hear the report. Thank you madam chair members. Alright you're recognized thank you on the drive in this morning. was trying to remember ever. Twenty three years of. Sending the reports but ever. Done it in July. I'm not sure. I can remember. so the June. Twenty twenty report. these your final numbers for the fiscal year twenty. The gross collections were down two hundred fifty six million for the year. That growth rate is negative three point five percent. In on net available it was down one hundred sixty eight million from the previous year. The growth rate is negative two point eight. You can turn to the graph and see that we finish the year three hundred sixty nine million above. The official forecast of March twenty third. Due to the pandemic in the Associated. Shock to the economy the official forecast was revised on March twenty third you can see on the horizontal axis where it went back to zero we start all over on March twenty third. Based on that specific revision. This graph reflects the net of the forecast at the end of June of three hundred sixty nine million dollars. However an additional revision was provided on. June thirtieth the last day of the year. In order to provide a portion of this. Funding to state agencies the revision. Was an increase of two hundred forty million dollars. Distributed according to. Revenue stabilization act. The residual after that would be a hundred and twenty nine million. And along with any funds and spent and returned. That amount will be transferred to allotment reserve. Turning one more page you can see the end of the year. That the sales taxes of. Actually in June or eight percent up. The. A surprising number and finish the year three percent positive. three the income taxes negative six point five percent. And with that madam chair of the. Glad to try to answer any questions. Alright ladies and gentleman are there any questions. All right Representative love you're recognized for a question. Thank you ma'am share some some missed within the me in a manner commander stand. He said there we we were a hundred and after the revised forecasts the money Given out to the state agencies. How much. The forecast relies two hundred forty me forward. On the final day. And that is to allow the state agencies to have some of this funding. It was distributed according to the original revenue stabilization act that you guys provided. In the beginning of the year okay so what the original revenue stabilization act what would we when we have hit forecast of what we've been below are. That I'm trying to track this money because if is a hundred twenty nine million on a surplus plus the money that we're that we were restored from the Kobe rainy day fund I'm trying to figure out of these trying to get all these figures together. I understand it's it's confusing of. We wound up actually three million dollars above. The revenue stabilization act three million dollar three okay just three million dollars of of the RSA okay total budget. The original forecast for the year never was gonna make total budget it was a hundred eighty four million less than the previous year. Then there was another revision on March twenty third the revised another three hundred fifty three million downward so it was over five hundred million dollars expected to be. Not collected. From the amount collected the previous year. And as it wound up. You can see that. Over that revision we went up three hundred sixty nine million above that. And so. There was enough money to consider sending some of that out to the agencies. And some of those agencies according to that distribution some of those agencies won't spend at all or can't keep it all and they'll be some returned. That amount as of now is unknown at least to me. And Some of the agencies can keep it like. K. twelve. I think higher it. Can do that I think a D. ages grants can do that in fact in fact that's probably I'm guessing the reason that this was done. Was Medicaid. So. If all of that was spent there was to be a hundred twenty nine million going to love it reserve. And that sits there until joint budget decides what to do with it but there should be a little more coming back from the agencies it cannot keep it or cannot spend it. Okay so would that be in addition to the one twenty now with that be in addition to the one hundred and seventy one million dollars that we we had in the covered rainy day fund that are I don't know how that got distributed Representative A you have to visit with Kevin on that particular question. Okay. Alright thank you Mr all right of Mr believe would you like to come up and tell this. All right if if if Mister Billy can answer that then I would love to hear from. Alright you're recognized. Jake plea DFA office of budget. Of representatives. Your question was how much was distributed back to that in effect surplus of reserves yes what what I'm trying to figure out is we had to come the rainy day fund. In which we were going that money went back. Tell allotment reserve it I'm trying to figure out that if we were in this surplus if we had a surplus from this year one twenty nine how much money do we I mean how much my total in the allotment reserve do we have now. So the current balance in the to the general revenue allotment reserve it is about two hundred and one point seven million. were at the process right now closing out the previous year so there's about a forty five day period that agencies have from June thirtieth to reconcile of books and make all their payments so little more might end up getting swept in there any general revenue that that most executive branch agencies have at that point we'll be swept back to here but it's in excess of two hundred million. Okay. All right so you so we can expect to report probably in about forty five days would you say sure we do our next council I'm just trying to figure out I'm trying to really keep track in this of these dollars yes and I understand that so there's a lot that went on at the end of the fiscal year and and this is kind of part of our whole reconciliation as Mister Wilson described it it's somewhat complicated to work our way through there is a process that's been in place for a long time where some agencies are allowed to carry forward the revenue they receive some agencies are not and then in between there are some agencies that have special language like Medicaid that allow them to sweep forward funds that are below forecasts so we made some adjustments there impart largely to help out the Medicaid program but we also limited the amount that was swept those agencies so that we can increase the amount going into surplus. Okay alright thank you. All right to senator Johnson you're recognized for a question. Richard I'm over here. The six percent six percent reduction in income taxes that due to the to the changing to the middle of July is it below what was anticipated. The. Our. House ward were as a section an income tax reduction. The end of the year. Looking at skews me. Looking at withholding. for the month of June is down eleven percent and for the year only one point seven percent gross you can see some of that is because of employment problems. Due to the shock. And some of that is due to the shift of of payment's being due July fifteen rather than April fifteenth. It's my understanding that quite a few tax payers. When had paid anyway in the previous in the current year. And so Part of this part is excess above forecasts is due to that. And therefore the. The complete amount expected in fiscal year twenty one will not be quite as much. Thank. All right of Representative Johnson you're recognized for a question. Thank you madam chair Yes the question. How much of the code nineteen rainy day funds. Was actually swept back into the general allotment reserve of one hundred twenty eight point seven million so the two hundred million dollars plus is is out of that one twenty nine. Yes the one twenty nine make certain of more than half of the two a one the way it broke down was seventy million was transferred over into general revenue allotment reserve as a result of the end of your of increased at two sixty nine or the three sixty nine above where we had projected being the richer described we added in one hundred twenty eight point seven we ended up because we did actually fully funded the RSA we had a surplus of two point three million and that's how we get up to two hundred one point seven million so the dexter three million dollars or whatever that was a fully funded above the RSA did a quarter of that go to highways then yes Sir eight dot eight hundred thousand okay thank you. All right the Senator hammer you're recognized for a question thank you Mr chair first one would be the when we are back wrestling with this and what we anticipated the taxpayers would not pay and now surprisingly they have paid do we have a set number so we know what the projected impact might be in the future or was that ever a number ever decided what that was anticipated to be. A. Doctor shall not is here in the audience he can answer that I think that it that's something we've been looking at very closely all month. With chairs permission. If you would introduce yourself for the record please. John shall not DFA you're recognized. We we did monitor those payments that came. Of early the head of the shift the due date. both in terms of their The collections as well as a pause that occurred in re funds. So in April we didn't see the surgeon re funds that we normally get. For that last that last portion of processing so that paused as well so we looked above the line and below the line. for its effect on net available revenue. At the end of the year. Use me. At the end of the year we had an assessment that about ninety three million. And gross collections and and individual income payments had occurred at the expense of our estimate of what we thought would happen now in July. So we were we were concerned about the all along in April may and June as to whether the for its effect would be in FY twenty one. in addition to that we had anywhere from seventy to eighty million and individual re funds that that did not happen as expected so some taxpayers waited to file those claims as well so that became a risk for FY twenty one. So we are now assessing what's happening this month as it all plays out for tax year twenty nineteen total liability. Do you think you would know by next month when you come before us what that'll be years I can be a big enough window for you to get the real measurable impact. I can say the. It looks. Not as bad as feared and we will be able to report on that. Thank you all right senator DISMANG you recommend recognized for a question thank you madam chair and just just real quick and it. I mean I I do want to talk about what's going to happen in FY twenty one would be looking at I mean my my my concern is and I guess of the chatter that I'm hearing a little bit is that you know what we we're we're happy with this two in a million dollar surplus that's you know being created or been set aside give to some comfort and I'm not sure that that that's the feeling we should have of any even the chatter about additional spending or trying to get business back to usual as far state spending grant programs and everything else and I'm I would just say that we need to be a little bit hesitant about again finding some type of comfort level because you talked small businesses around the state the PPP money health the unemployment you know additional money helped folks you had different little things that the the fits put through that the state was able to do that that help these businesses staple it will that's coming to an end at least until there's additional action on the federal level of it and so I just what if if there is no additional help coming or there is no revisions what do you think we need to be preparing for a for those for this next year. As a indicated it does not look as bad this month as as we feared coming into this year. we don't have all the numbers yet but I think it will be more positive than what we were looking at earlier in and just to follow up on that I mean I I just want to make sure that again we don't have some kind of false security that things are not as bad In general because I I hope that we're going to take into account the ending of that six hundred dollar unemployment payment you know that that's coming up now and they were going to take into account that the PPP help pay real stay afloat this is to stay afloat in and even some degree the ADC money that we utilize for the ready for business program to help these folks again you have conversations small business owners and you know I think right now it's when things are really hitting and I hope that you take that into account when when you're making your revise or making up this forecast. Right I I think there is a definite possibility of a double dip here and we have already cut FY twenty one back on April second. So we're now watching this essentially that lowered status of for this current year to see what it all means. All right he finished senator. All right thank you all right but we have one last question on the queue and that's from a. Senator hammer. Thank you Mr chair I can't remember if it was Richard or which who made the comment about we helped Medicaid with some of the surplus would you define what that means and how we helped Medicaid where the money went. Sure department Human Services has special language in their appropriation act which allows for general revenue which is provided to the different divisions of DHS not just Medicaid but the other divisions. Any general revenue which is not spent in which is below forecast can be swept not back to surplus but instead goes to the Medicare trust fund Medicaid trust fund is one of the big kind of shock absorbers that we have in the state budget it's a balance the the we follow pretty closely there's a number of different funds there we say Medicaid trust fund that's a little bit of a misnomer because it's it's more complicated than that but we have been monitoring the balance in that phone on a projected basis and it had declined significantly last fiscal year so our intent in doing this was to put them back up to where they started the year and we've succeeded. So what it what is the balance then I'd like to get a list of the agencies and how much they were able to carry Ford if you can give me that as a sideboard later but what is the balance in the Medicaid trust fund now a. Depending on how you measure it and this isn't something the war we at the current Medicaid trust fund is a hundred and forty million but then there's an additional of another probably a hundred and fifty million out there and additional funding for Medicaid that is available to DHS are thank you the chair chairman more non. Mr believe just to clarify that money is going to be so that would be swept in those languages in there and those appropriations that's only money within the department of the of Human Services yes not the. Surplus money as a whole and the only money within that agency yes Sir it's money that had been budgeted for one of the divisions but which the division did not spend thank you right thank you all right any other questions. All right seeing none thank you so much appreciate all of you for helping clarify some of that. Thank you for that report right now we are going to go to item ET which is the executive subcommittee Ripon A chairman Jeff Wardlaw thank you madam chair of the executive subcommittee met on Thursday at noon reviewed and appeared approved emergency rule for department of commerce ADC regarding the outlines of ministration of the new emergency loan program for developmental disability providers that that are facing hardships due to code nineteen review and approval this March role be effective upon adjournment of this meeting I move for adoption of the report alright ladies and gentleman you've heard the motion all those in favor say aye all those opposed no all right the motion passes. Going to the report for the standing committees number of number one F. one is the administrative rules in that so Representative Dan Sullivan you're recognized for report. Thank you madam chair of the subcommittee met on Wednesday July twenty second. The subcommittee adopted a report of the executive subcommittee concerning its approval of an emergency rule one rule was deferred to August agenda for the agency's request all of the rules were reviewed and approved the subcommittee also heard agency updates on delinquent rulemaking under ACT five seventeen of twenty nineteen move for the adoption of this report. Right we do have some questions for you of Representative I'm sorry senator Irvin. I'm sorry my at my question was for something else apologies alright it was it was actually for Mr blade about the DD providers okay. We'll go one and maybe that you meet with him later thank you all right so Representative Davis. Thank you madam chair can we get back Gilmore from the department of health all right Mr Gilmour you here. Okay I see you come on down. Identify yourself please for the record. Matt you know more part of health all right to Representative Davis you're recognized you're more motor sorry this act. to the I've noticed you've got several rule changes on here from various boards act can you tell me what's in some of these and specifically to any of these include fee reductions. They did of the transformation and some of the directions a child given us and working with the governor's office and the office transformation. The counseling board as cuts their fee significantly. The speech pathology boards cut their fee significantly as well the social work board has reducing teen education hours as well the psychology board has reduced a few so we're we're not totally through with all we're doing it as they're making changes to the legislative acts for the last session but we are. Instructing them where they can to look at their fund balances look at you know if they can cut fees and and tap into that. So these the reductions a result of changes that were made at the direction of the transformation act through that and then you know with with the the governor's office and then yells input as well yes Sir thank you Mr thank you madam chair. All right in the you have finished your questions right. Seen any other questions for Mister Gilmore there are none so you are. Your dismiss thank you very much thank you alright ladies and gentleman there's a motion on the floor. I have a second all right all those in favor say aye. All those opposed motion passes. All right senator Irvin. Thank you madam chair at it goes back to the executive subcommittee I just what for purposes of information for the legislature the DD providers we did do a program for them through the cares committee but if Mr bleed can come up and talk quickly about the federal government just passed a program for non profits we're going to do that at the end. Be supplemental budget okay okay I just wanted to make sure we have that conversation thank you. All right item two and I'm not I'd go to item itself and number two under item if we're on charitable penal and correctional facilities Representative David fielding you're recognized. A this is. We can't hear you. Well can somebody I share with you. A dot a of. Representative Dotson. Number sixty eight all right. What do all right there you go start over again please. All right madam chairman thank you. The child will pay no correction institute subcommittee met Monday July twenty eight twenty twenty at one thirty PM and met a. The chairman stated second terror when the Keller was unable to attend the meeting and what a skews her absence the subcommittee gave ACT amazed to secretary callous service to the department of correction and wish her well upon her departure. The staff members from the department of correction provided testimony and the subcommittee to hell discussion related to the impact of covert nineteen on the department of. Arkansas an Arkansas prison respect submitted represent a day filled and and Senator Gary Stubblefield co chair I move the adoption this report alright ladies and gentlemen this motion on the floor all those in favor say aye I'm sorry second it also second all those in favor say aye all those opposed motion passes. All right. The four game and fish state police Senator Keith Ingram. Senator Ingram here. Mike on all right I can DO quite as well as represented fielding a game and fish state police subcommittee met July twenty second twenty twenty to discuss regulations adopted by the Arkansas game and fish commission and receive testimony regarding law enforcement training outstanding work was done by all in attendance and I moved for adoption alright there's motion on the floor all those in favor say aye. All those opposed motion passes. And Representative David Whitaker you're recognized. Thank you madam chair the higher education subcommittee met Thursday July twenty third to hear testimony regarding the re opening plans for for your into your institutions including the university of Arkansas system Arkansas state university system and east Arkansas community college among others the subcommittee also receive testimony about a contact tracing exposure notification that produced by mid of incorporated on behalf as co Senator Breanne Davis and myself we submit this and move adoption. All right motion on the floor second. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed. Motion is adopted. And skipping down now to number eight the peer committee Representative DEANN ball. Thank you madam chair the peer subcommittee met on Tuesday July the twenty first the subcommittee approved various temporary appropriation request and shared service appropriation transfers the subcommittee also approved the cares appropriation request however to cares request were deferred to ALC speaking center by the full council those requestor items be to be a request for sixteen million for the department of health and Adam B. two D. I request for five point one eight million for Arkansas P. B. S. the sub subcommittee reviewed several other items and receive monthly reports and I move adoption of the report at the proper time. All right of there is a motion on the floor. All those in favor say aye okay yes senator Hester. Maybe I just miss that are we if if we vote on this for given the five point eight million dollars to PBS now it's been pulled it's been all right thank you that's which in in such a Representative Vaught will have something about PBS after we do the most and adopt the. Senator DISMANG you're welcome to ask a question. Thank you madam chair and I was what I'm trying to look at and understand is where the request from south Arkansas community college comes into play this part of the report were fiction approved for twenty be asking questions about it now I'm I'm a little confused all right to Mr believe if you would come forward to answer some questions. All right. Identify yourself for the record. You're recognized Jake we DFA office a budget I think you're looking at the report that were required to give about and if you're close out if you remember in the June ALC meeting we requested authority to issue a limited amount of appropriation to state agencies and institutions of higher education to help them finish out the year I think there's a letter that we requested in the packet as part of that letter we committed to making a report to this body on any time we actually used that authority in this case south Arkansas needed additional procreation to make payroll I think at the end of the year that was just a minute that would was an additional expenditure from reading the letter right but it was that they had someone out and we're utilizing other positions and so they needed increase preparation for that reason or what was the I'm I don't have a really good handle on exactly what the details are on their beyond what is in that letter before you but we can certainly get someone from South Park or maybe there might be somebody from higher at who can help. Senate one here from sorry but it's already what with this is already past there's yes Sir it was done and in June okay thank you. All right of we're going to go back to the motion is a motion on the floor all those in favor say aye. All those opposed motion passes now Representative Baltz I believe you have the PPS introduction and one of the things. Can someone from PBS come to the table. We also need the department of health at some point also can two PBS and then would to the department of health. See. Marty Reid K.. Mr Rolla if you want to come to the table please introduce your. The people with you have them introduce themselves for the record. To. You can make the turn on your a very go. I am Marty route director of external relations for Arkansas PBS. My little. Courtney pledger director of Arkansas PBS. All right A you. All right in look before you get started with your remarks I wanted to just tell the committee you will have this in your packet we're going to. And help we have handouts in your package on this. Alright you're recognized. Thank you thank you so much for the opportunity to be bring your microphone a little closer absolutely has been good that's good I thank you so much for the opportunity to be here with you today I know there was some questions the other day about our proposal and about to Arkansas a in my so on an answer a few of those now currently Arkansas PBS operates six towers and twelve microwave sites the broadcaster signal to seventy six percent of the state's population leaving a significant number of Arkansas students and citizens unable to view our educational content over the air. The coverage gap has never been clearer and more evidence than this past spring with schools closed in March and Arkansas PBS we pivoted immediately to join in an intensive partnership in collaboration. With Arkansas department of education's division of elementary and secondary education. To provide Arkansas alternative means of instruction or Arkansas A. M. I.. Go ahead. Go ahead. We worked with a number of talented Arkansas teachers of the year as on screen instructors in personalized segments that were produced remotely do you to cover the nineteen. On March fifteenth schools closed in beginning Monday March thirtieth Arkansas PBS broadcast curriculum curriculum based content for the state's pre K. through eighth grade students for eight weeks five hours a day five days a week. That's better now I can see. Of educators and parents have access to supplemental lesson plans and curriculum materials all lesson plans were developed by the division of elementary and secondary education all curated programs were prove through any extensive review process by licensed education specialists from both AT and Arkansas PBS the content allied with state and federal standards so that it was flexible enough to serve as supplemental war fundamental based on the needs of individual school districts Arkansas AM I was an urgent response in an emergency situation. And a valuable way to keep Arkansas students learning from home during the closures. PBS you know we've talked about this before you have cannot afford the Nielsen report. But we have many other indicators of Arkansas AM eyes popularity with students and parents Was clearly indicated by the fact that Arkansas families and teachers inundated our website digital platform social could channel center app to get contact cut content at an all time high by tens of thousands our website had more than one point six three million web page visits and three hundred and one thousand nine hundred visitors during this time frame more than twenty thousand people downloaded our new app in just a few weeks to watch AM by. Many are committee Arkansas students either don't have access to broadband or their families don't have cable or satellite in their family budget. These these families were served over the air for free during this time. However twenty four percent of Arkansas students and families were unable to receive the educational content largely the children in rural areas that need us most we heard from multiple areas of the state of about their inability to receive Arkansas and my. Our proposal that you have in front of you today recommended by the cares that committee provides federal covered funds that will allow us to install for additional transmitters around the state to provide our signal to not seventy six percent of our Kansans but ninety seven percent of our Kansans. We believe that Arkansas needs this increased over the air coverage not because we're gonna unnecessarily do Arkansas a in my again in the exact emergency model we used in March through may but because in this challenging time. The partnership between Arkansas PBS and Arkansas department of education can be used in many ways to provide innovative curriculum based content moving forward no matter the circumstances for all Arkansas students. Currently about a quarter of Arkansas students and parents are unable to receive our content over the year and these education programs I would like to quickly read a short note received from me you know Arkansas I just a couple days ago. Dear ms pleasure I read today's lead editorial in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette with great interest I want to thank you for pursuing a greater reach for Arkansas PBS I have lived and worked in west central Arkansas FOR the vast portion of my life and I fully understand the rural way of life and all the challenges that come with it. As an educator I see on a daily basis the need for more out reach from entity such as Arkansas PBS Arkansas PBS changes lives in your push to move into more isolated areas such as west central Arkansas will change more impoverished and isolated souls thank you could ever imagine. Every area dignified in today's editorial is a significantly impoverished rural area and we all know that the only way to fight off and move individuals out of poverty is through education it was great to see today that rural Arkansas I said to receive a huge boost from you all that Arkansas PBS that's that's from the chancellor of the university of Arkansas AT rich mountain. In Arkansas PBS we are genuinely. Putting Arkansas at the center Sir putting putting education at the center of what we do more passionate about it and we know all the things that we can do to serve the state's youngest citizens we just need to be able to reach the students. and because know what some people have not seen Arkansas a mine we've put together a little real of examples from from my recent a MI productions department of education has some representatives here so following the the real if there are questions Arkansas department of education's happy to answer as well. All right rated player roll tape. Hello. It's in Arkansas good morning Arkansas. Dear sweet beautiful brilliant students here in Arkansas good. Parents and students of Arkansas good morning everybody and it is great to be back with you today I'm corny conference and I'm so excited to be back for another day of Arkansas a in my you should have your A in my packet with. It's made by the Arkansas department of education if you don't have and don't worry you can still watch and learn with me today but do check with your school it may be available for you to download online we have a great lineup of programs for you and we even have a brand new math games from our math whiz Joel look at the. Wasting time and get right to it. Do you know thanks in Arkansas could be is all is that on your home state. I mean imagine what life would have been like back. Two hundred years ago. To expand that fits a ten to one ratio and French fries two one ketchup packets let's say I had a box with French fries and figure out how many ketchup packets I would be Arkansas has a long history of music such as delta blues country music rock and roll what you awesome Arkansas a in my students may thinking here with the U. M. S. star program. As high as you can. Still love it this pattern pass a rabbit care. Here you see these rabbit rabbit. You think comes next in this pattern next we're going to add a half a billion a. I'm gonna cut in half so we can use the rest for later. Many others can add a lot of reading this and. Angel has a great new math game for us today what do you think Jill. And for this activity we're going creating your own number puzzles let me give you an example of one that that I have. Let's say that today when I woke up this morning really cold outside. The temperature but I know this I know that the sun came out and the temperature double. Then something weird happened in the temperature dropped five sixty three. Since we're no longer in school we work hard to bring all of this quality program in each and every student in Arkansas thanks to the partition between the Arkansas department of education's division of elementary and secondary education and Arkansas previous technology helping communities I love it I'm so glad that you to me and today to learn with me. I have some questions. The. Senator Hendren you're recognized for a question. Thank you madam chairman of I appreciate the work you all do I guested one main need to wait until the department comes I would like to hear from the department of it how important this is or if it is important to them based on the opening plant they have for schools what role this will play but for you all I have little experience in broadcasting that said for the last several years I don't know why people are still putting in transmitters and microwaves with with on line content as it is so my first question is you said a quarter of the people are not eligible to get it over air how many that quarter can get it to the other methods through online through satellite to cable. Yeah me too we have that really have no access to this content well I can tell you nation wide is about twenty percent of the population I don't have an Arkansas statistic nationwide about twenty percent of the population it is reliant on over the air and that's because they live in rural areas where broadband is potentially not available but the main people that that includes or the folks there who were less fortunate they can't afford the can afford a hundred dollar cable bill or the hundred dollar satellite bill so the communities that are most not reached by your cable your satellite and and the those kind of things or the folks use just simply can't afford it they can't afford internet and so those are the folks that they really needed or left out the most. So you don't really know how many of that quarter has no access to these other methods. I think in Arkansas spelling bigger than what your national averages I mean I would I would think it was higher than it twenty percent but I just can't I can't center can give you the documentation to I guess the reason I know there's discussion about using some of those carriers monies for broadband rural broadband initiatives to serve some of these areas that don't have access to real property in which opens up not just PBS but a whole lot of other opportunities as well and I guess that's my question is are you all more going to is going to be more effective to deliver your content building radio tires and transmitters and microwaves or putting out broadband services to rural areas we'll both and we are partners I believe. Okay and and and over the air yes okay I appreciate that in the and again I don't know what you all can answer some point from the department I guess I would like to hear how this is integrated into the K. through twelve program as we see it unfolding in the fall I mean is it something that they're going to you make part of their curriculum that they're going to require kids to participate in if they're in a school that has to close down because of an outbreak or are there those type of plans in place. Someone. Are amended education that could help answer that question. Of. If you would to. In fifty sure cells for the record. Good morning keep any prizes the commissioner of learning services. All right. All right so Regarding I guess the questions regarding a in mind how we plan to use that in the future that we don't have the same plans for the process by which we used last year or this current year we have been in conversation with eighteen and Arkansas PBS about developing correct I'm supports that will be provided digitally virtually for our students especially in terms of our early learners in pre K. R. K. twelve student body where we seem to have a knowledge gap at times so will develop and content that will need to be provided statewide so that those students are able to begin to build their background knowledge and they're ready for the content within that grade level so at this time we've had those conversations with them okay thank you. All right any other questions for the department of education. All right of Representative got your you're recognized for a question thank you madam chair and thank you to read that you personally I have a seven year on the four year old indefinitely you to utilize Arkansas I am I in the spring was helpful not only in the content but also in the routine so thank you for your response and work I'm my question is similar to center Hendren but specifically if districts have reached out as part of their ready for learning plans if they have indicated an interest in utilizing Arkansas Hey my in those plans both as we prepare for on site instruction but particularly in the event of a school or district closure have you heard from disservice to our and you are interested in continuing our or initiating a partnership with a mighty and their curriculum content. mono as specific number or could point out a district I would say that you know if they were interested you know definitely we would support them with that effort of how to develop that content and make sure it's a line standards in supporting those things that students may need to learn but at this time I'll have a number of do you have any of which I have a number or no of districts to have reached out in the in terms of their plan there are already planned thank you thank you mentor all right there may be other questions so would you mind just staying thank you. All right the next one on the queue is the me see here. Have some. Senator DISMANG. Thank you madam chair I'd just for a quick one of things I want to ask about is you know we're going to be installing these tower was it a competitive bid had we come to the pricing for the installation of the Ford decisional towers. there has not been a competitive bid it was an estimate and we're we're looking at using existing police towers to keep keep costs down we already use police infrastructure for some of our microwave units but you know we don't have an actual competitive okay is there some place that we can get a break down of where this five million dollars and and how we're looking utilize it each one of the different areas or where maybe I missed in the packet is it in here. I may I may have to our proposal yes I have a I have a copy here it was in the proposal that was submitted to the care that committee that they adopted I do have. One copy here the one who's asking for but the I can provide that and I can I can provide other copies if if the anyone need to get back that that would be helpful in one my quick I mean I just I mean as a parent. I mean. Utilizing the online resources at the time that's convenient for both the parent and the child and that sort of thing makes a lot of sense in an eighteen think from the presentation that's what's being mostly utilized is the the web sites and downloading apps which you all talked about it in that sort of thing but what what is so what's the air time for these AM programs verses the total air time for the regular PBS programming I mean what we really want to spend five million dollars to air how many hours with the aim my on a daily basis verses whatever else the programming is on AT and we air children's programming all day during the day every every week day and we are prepared to do whatever is necessary in terms of the hours during during during the day to provide whatever is needed add Senator continued during the AM I want it ran it ran from eight o'clock in the morning until one o'clock in the afternoon and they were our segments you know based on the grade as those pre K. through eighth grade and so that was the A. M. model number important for you know in the fall and the spring you would do well whatever is required to me we're facing on certain times and we could have you know limited shut down the schools or may have a broad shut down or an individual shut down but anything we can do when when those from throughout the school would it be online or over the air or whatever it may be to help facilitate working with the Arkansas department of education in this certainly what we'll do. Cat and again I just share similar concerns that we're we're putting money into a dinosaur that maybe not as broadly utilized or well utilized by students and parents as opposed to putting the dollars into the apt programs into the online resources that I I believe would be more widely used thank you can I deduct one other comment sorry no I just going to say that you know everything that we do over the air is also done online so that is out there and they're you know they're probably more you hear about every day more more cord cutters who they're telling the cable and lot of people say cables at the dinosaur now is so you have brought this is there for those who can't afford those options and they can't afford cable became a force of light and they can't afford their internet you know whatever may be and broadband may get a third may not it may be had that the drop a rule area to a to a city building to pick up the live fire something of the if we can get it over the Airways this is something that that the out there for everyone especially those who can least afford it also broadcast is I think at this point far from far from a dinosaur there's a brand new broadcast standard been approved by the FCC and with that ATSC three point oh and future they will be all kinds of of different interactive and AM targeting content to particular schools and particular districts and you mean it's going to come with a lot of of education enhancements if you give his broadcast is here to stay if you think of the joint from analog to digital several years ago and and the big impact that was moving from eighty is the one point oh to three point oh is is going to be a bigger transition then pending than that in a bigger impact and so you that's five or ten years away probably closer to five but is it's coming. All right thank you A we have eight people in the queue and I'm going next to a senator Cheatham and then senator Hester. Thank you madam chair I'll be brief Senator Hendren kind of dust on it but it would do you really know where these areas are for your transmitters or your power is going to be your your stalling. Other Gobiidae my Senate district I guess what I'm getting at you you should be in your packet the our our proposal to the the you should be in. Back. It's it's the last page of the peer packet okay right for this is done in southeast Arkansas. Well bill when we reach southeast Arkansas we have an IT we build a radio tower with bill right of of you know we're here like Billy Joe maybe if we get some filed under the loser is a nonpublic and connective the problem I'm not sure you have the answer but not like you need to look at that area that I don't see like older for dinner okay even Star City I'm I'll point rip represent Holcomb here but when we and and back in the spring and or Star City says about seventy five percent of their public schools after they were out the whole the could for different reasons could not get previous welcomed and also a little concerned about so you'd like that so he's Arkansas. We have our chief engineer and here and I'm I'm center I'm sensitive store CVS my home town. Thank you would introduce yourself for the record. Hi good morning of and your Bicknell the chief technical officer with Arkansas PBS. And senator Cheatham the two one a well of the whole of the. Covers the capitol concern amid and we all are for owners but then the old state but and I'd like connective these law the problems but the when we were out of school spring you doors version public schools where the. The could not provide been mended PBS would not available for the whole the could not afford cable or satellite. If well it was available but it was Louisiana previous. Then he forty kick your that the summer Congress we could sure that'll play with. I cake so we had to be we've got plenty of you go up with the coverage in southeast Arkansas yes we we have up at the towering over right eye which covers elder right one Monroy that's about the low waist world talking about. What do you cover for like really to you does yes bill to write us bills into the Mississippi so you should be able to if you have a decent antennae should be able to get from them a lot of debate that but anyway that's not a not issuing songwriter thank you all right thank you of we are now going to senator Hester then senator Ingram. Thank you how many towers we currently have. Six six six more adding four more by so of the question you know I've got is moving for clearly your ongoing maintenance cost would would increase so you would have to increase PBS's or Etienne's budget moving forward for you can eat that because you had surplus well we know is the main call we don't not gonna have leasing because these towers because your existing towers interstate on towers and so and we we have the personnel that maintain the towers as far as do the work on the towers really the only added cost at this point can be you know electricity which our folks tell us that we can absorb and there is extended it so it won't be an additional ongoing costs that we would ask for for for these towers sincere maintenance crews can take on an additional sixty or seventy percent. Hours. Well amended these these are new transmitters that you know we have some old transmitters it take a lot of upkeep these these are as much a public and that enters your. These proposed transmitter sites to feed feeling or in fill small areas we we don't get signal into at the moment and they will typically operate at less than a quarter of the palla over existing six mine broadcast sites so the size of the transmitter in the infrastructure is a lot small lot and a lot easier to maintain than the full power broadcast side which we have six of the cover the state of the moment so adding up these FOR in full sites the cost of operation is probably going to be significant with the lesson operating just one of my main protest facilities so we can cover that we can pull that. Thank you all right of senator Ingram then we're going to senator Chesterfield and then representatives would. Thank you madam chair of. For those of us that don't live in communities that have the luxury of local programming I think you need to understand a little bit about what border communities face up for instance of the area area of the eastern Arkansas that shown in goal it receives PBS but it's PBS from Tennessee. Of and the same would be true I'm sure for southwest Arkansas that it gets programming from Shreveport are mine wrote of in so I want everybody sort understand this is more than just to mean obviously that A am I drove home a dramatic the need for this up because we had students that couldn't receive AM by that need it desperately in the delta because we receiving Tennessee program. We don't get any Arkansas news which at times is good can be bad but we we don't get any Arkansas news or or original programming in our area up because of that and I understand and we all want broadband that's that's the future we understand that but this is sort of like you know living in the twenties in and you warning TV and not even having a radio at your house and so and I know that that there is been situations where people didn't particularly like some of the programming at of it in Arkansas PBS or PBS nationwide and all we're asking for everybody in here to vote for this is just give us the opportunity to not like the programming as well so please help us this is very important to our areas and it means a lot so I would appreciate a good vote for this. All right thank you all right Senate senator Chesterfield then Wooten and then urban. Thank you madam chair I am in total support of this but I need to understand you map. The various colors could you explain to me the color coding in the map. Are you referring to the the counties covered by proposed calories you've got some blue you get some light blue some orange go yes ma'am if if you look at the like the light blue it but the topic this been county merit county this the Gator propose Gator tower okay so that your. This chapter colors are the four different powers okay that's what I needed to know because I was trying to figure out what is this all about yes I would each color the different power I got you okay I just would appreciate so very very much a good vote on this as well so that children across this state will have access we have got so many for kids who don't have that access to broadband because of affordability issues also because of and accessibility issues even in my district excess ability even here in Pulaski County is a huge issue of a so many keys to meet the broadband and we're looking at school districts that are putting hot spots in two buses and that sort of thing the only thing I would ask is that we make sure that we are coordinating between the department of education and PBS so the children receive the quality that they need the record that they need so that at if something happens god would be it because of the pandemic that they receive the quality of education that is necessary and let that I would appreciate a good vote thank you Mr thank. Thank you all right Representative Wooten you're recognized for a question. There were there we go now thank you madam chairman I wanna pursuit of senator DISMANG is questioning a little bit I'm a little concerned. Do you have a budget. For ongoing operation of these for additional tires put together me up I know it's one thing to say was going have little actress G. cost but there's bound to be more cost associated with this so I guess what I'm asking is of five point one of five point two million how much of that is going to be a continuing addition to your budget a annually our budgets no we don't anticipate our budget growing any yes Sir we can we can operate these towers on our existing budget. Knowing no anticipation of any increase in your annual budget no Sir. Not operate these towers. We might come is go for money for something else if you have this additional time or. In east Arkansas and I certainly won't to see that part of the state and others have access to that a program. How are you gonna override the Tennessee signal or or the fact that it's it's out there now it's a it's a different channel Sir it's just like it overlapping signals that they're now that is a channel that would come in on your on your TV. Get over the air right now I mean you it's out there now. Is it not is it does not reach these areas because L. region them up okay will they be able to have the Tennessee channel one Arkansas channel or health is that how it works yes Sir they would still receive over the air they could still receive your initiative Arkansas for example these areas right now is is centering was pointing out can get mint this PBS they would still be able to get that are Arkansas PBS signal would come on a different channel so they wouldn't overlap that would interfere with each other they just be a different channel on your TV okay alright thank you madam chair all right of senator Irvin and then we're going to. Of Representative Baltz. And then. A Representative Godfrey and then senator English so you're recognized thank you madam chair first let me just tell you thank you for the level of detail that you provided to us today I do appreciate that also do appreciate the level of detail that was in the proposal and and and I think that the that's something that we need to demand from anything that comes before us so I do appreciate you all coming in being prepared today and with your presentation I want to ask you about this map actually the broadband access mass did y'all where where did you pull that map from was that in coordination with. Anyone. Or is this year this map right here. Mail. With the government of the if the Arkansas PBS's coverage area and Arkansas's broadband access. Those not in the is not in the proposal within the is in the hand out so we got today. It's in this it's and that's one. No no no no no no we had it already in our packets it's this of Arkansas I AM my this. General. Here you can have this one. They are they would. It's an all the statistics that you guys okay so this this is this is the the the circles or the coverage of our existing and tennis are six hours right my question though is this is a map that's lane your tower judges coverage area over a map of Arkansas's broadband access. So I'm curious continue where they pull that from that had to be glad to get you the information okay yes so because I think I'm I'm gonna pay you back on what senator Hendren center dismaying I think a lot of people in this room are are really and. Concerned about which is that which is this this map to me I'd like to know where this map and if I can get in color I would appreciate that but the my point is we have to bring all these pieces together and we got to fix your problem but we also have to fix that underlying problem that's on this map which is the broadband access issue because in your video that you showed. One of the teacher said if you don't have your A in my packet you can download that now not if you don't have broadband at your house you can't so I support this proposal from you but I say that with the condition the condition is is that we do everything within our power to fix the second part of that map and that we spend whatever we need to spend to fix that problem on that map which is the underlying broadband access issues absolutely so my question to you or perhaps to your technical person is when you install these towers will they have capability of being able to utilize them for anything to fix that robin access problem. Yes. Yes yes. Up to a certain extent yes we will be able to deliver the call mask off I'm sorry so I just wanna make sure real clear and get this on the record yes we will be able to download them to live a digital content to the students especially as we might right towards ATC three there's lots of In bed a technology in that platform that allows us to download educational material files Exeter two and packages to the students directly. So so you said those towers that we're going to install or the towers that you have now can be used to increase broadband access to those areas yes or no when we go to ATC three yes. The new broadcast standard New York us when you get to the new broadcast standard and is that through a fixed wireless solution The new ATSC three standard of means that when delivering like P. based television or IP based material direct to the consumer and receivers will be able to download files and pull down data so if we delivering packets and informational material to students they'll be able to click an icon like they see on the menu of on that could on the television set and download that material and that's gonna be a viable and and in the okay next generation sets you would have to have like a smart TV to do that right yes a new eighty six weeks I see okay gotcha because I want to make sure that we are utilizing every bit of infrastructure that the taxpayers have paid for in the state of Arkansas whether that's dark fiber or a when towers or your towers or whatever we've got to start identifying this infrastructure and put it to work sure in order to address the broadband access issue and and. The the areas with trying to cover with these television repeat the sites A what I would referred to as broad band desserts as well right and as you can see television being around as a medium here in Arkansas for quite some time and their communities that these filling transmittal such a going into that at the moment cannot receive madam television. I'm sorry people are talking sorry so if I haven't been able to receive television up to this this day and age it's going to be awhile before they get to the broadband world as well so I see the broadband rollout and some of the regional areas and those were might rule areas of Arkansas taking some time to roll out side the best medium to to capture that market at the moment is television okay. Alright thank you I'd like to discuss more with the about off off line with you and I salute while at later thank you very much thank you madam chair. Alright I'm just going read the list as it is now we're going to go to Representative Godfrey then representatives fault senator English Representative Davis Senator hammer and then Representative Wooten all right represent to god for you're recognized thank you Mr chair this question is actually for doctor pride or someone from the division sorry to make you run back and FOR. I have a couple different questions actually to senator Ingram's point and center witness point for communities that are receiving content from other states and. They're not able to get Arkansas specific content and we as a state have not adopted common core academic standards and instead have Arkansas specific academic standards so can you speak to the benefit of having Arkansas specific PDS. Academically and based in academic standards of the state absolutely thank you yes as we think about you know all of those potential I would say opportunities to expand content across our state for students in terms of making sure that they're ready for learning we value this infrastructure piece that would be added so that we are able to reach those remote areas of the state and keeping in mind that as you said those will does that content will be directly aligned to our standards which are Arkansas specific academic standards. Thank you and madam chair by maybe have one follow up and I I think the point has been raised and that families in poverty are having a difficult time accessing or or affording other opportunities the and broadcast not only because of that monthly fee but also because of the devices necessary to access that digital content I'm do you or could someone from the division speak to the number of the press percentage of students to qualify for free and reduced lunch in these targeted broadcast areas I don't have those exact numbers right now but I can definitely get that to you but we do know that you know as we think about the different regions that we serve that we have a significant number students who would be a party that we need you know this remote access out though I don't know the exact number I do know there's a significant need to support those students who may not have access any other way and students who may also be having some difficulty with yes yes okay thank you very much thank you manager all right to the. Representative Vaught you're recognized thank you madam chair so if I'm reading this correctly and this will be for PBS. This is an even gonna be available within the school year. So if we were to have to for some unforeseen raising gavel out of schools you're still not gonna be able to get it to the areas on these maps according to what I've got in my hand am I correct yes ma'am not not in by the end of this year Allen but calendar year of but then once we get into next year will start installing the transmitters and they want all be installed at once bill be incremental yes so there will be some to be operational for the for the spring okay because it says right here at the very bottom that tells timeline is twelve months that it would not be available. Within the twelve months well that that is the worst case scenario of getting all for the new towers up and operational but as I said to be done you know one at a time it and get got brought online so it'll be spread out but that's the worst case scenario yes ma'am okay thank you madam chair. All right senator English you're recognized for a question. Thank you madam chairman I appreciate what you all have done what you are doing I think that we we saw. Kinda where all the holes were when we in March when we ended up having to go to people staying at home going to school online and how many young people really didn't have that opportunity for access and how many schools were really not prepared to be able to teach their young people I I appreciate the fact that you have had this really close partnership with the department of education so that it's a line to your programs are aligned in their late change quickly you guys pretty nimble I will say though that I think one of the things that I have to agree with senator Irvin is is that for ever and ever we've been talking about broadband and how we get broadband and we've keep having the same discussions over and over and over all different agencies talking about the same stuff and yet we never ever manage to get everybody sitting down at the table you all included to figure out how we solve the problem we just keep talking about the problem but we don't really pull people together to sit down and talk about how we solve it. Are there there are parts of what you're talking about that could fit into a broadband program but there's nobody that really knows it because you're over here talking and the people over here talking and other people over there my suggestion is I like what you're doing I think it's important that people who live in other parts of the state have that opportunity to be able to access PBS I don't watch it every day but I'm hoping that it works well for kids and that that you all can can do something good but I do want to make sure that what we are doing now is not just looking at this because it's five million dollars but are we looking at this is and how do we incorporate this into a bigger strategic plan for how we're able to serve all of our people across the state thank you and yes ma'am anything we can do to do that index of and to cooperate with other agencies and what they're trying to do and expanding broadband is that fielding important we're committed to doing that thank you absolutely we're happy to help convene that group. All right thank you Representative Davis you're recognized for a question. Thank you madam chair I'm over here I've got three things on the cover in my colleagues are getting tired to let's try to do this quick. first is I remember that you guys were exempt from transformation but a lot of what you're hearing like from senator English just now is and I've heard from other members we're building towers with state police a win in game and fish I need you guys to reach out to the governor's office in the game and fish and ask how you can cooperate with them so we can share these assets that were already purchasing around the state we can act you're not your head yes you're gonna yes I can just add one thing to that though we we're not we're not building towers reusing existing towers that are already there so we again we're building new towers so talk to him and find our that or as may not be on a map that you have today that yes all right the second thing is I heard earlier you said this was based on estimates when you go to purchase equipment and do installations is that gonna be competitively bid yes that is the transmitters and all of that will be compatible in that yes yes okay last thing I want to talk to you about a notice on your map you've got a good portion of the delta here I would encourage you to reach out to the delta regional authority for grants to cover the cost of a lot of this I think that this is something that they would be willing to fund with some federal grandmother grant money outside of the cares act which is available year in and year out doesn't have to be a pandemic snot specialists there all the time just go and ask for it and to telling of that question is since this is based on an estimate of the cost come in lower than this five million dollars what happens to the balance of the money we would turn that back to the cares committee that around. Yeah thank you for the suggestion my ear they're saying this has to be spent by the end of the year you're where that that is correct okay alright thank you thank you mention all alright thank you senator Johnson I'm gonna let you go Nicks concerned now you have a very quick question. Well. I would I would ask when was a lot at ease your existing six towers going to be available for that new network. How agent or they is you that you were just speaking about them taking much more power and we and and if you if you know these gaps soon enough to to give us this. How much have you set aside of your own money. To to address this issue without asking us how much of your own revenues have you already set aside to fill these gaps that you know exist and win is a lot what was the last charity to put up in is it is a isn't able to to do what you're talking about and the next generation with broadband and and why would you why would you be asking to update to those sixty hours that may not be. I think the last hour we build was in two thousand and six settled radio. Yeah I already was in two thousand six two thousand seven the most recent one as far as the rest of that I'm on a. Sir elder ida was added in two thousand six and then when we did the digital conversion and two thousand eight two thousand and nine that money was funded from the agriculture department we had that for grant money. So all of a present six sites are running of the first generation of digital transmission equipment and now it's starting to get very old and and the since it's due for updating because it's so why would you be trying to fix your problem. Now rather than expand I cut the the present sought to rex tomorrow actually running at the maximize technical facilities as far as the FCC's concerned solve most of the limitations with coverage is primarily due to terrain and the existing sauce not being able to reach over some of the the mountains across the state and fill in certain areas so out of prison transmitters are actually doing pretty good and we do have a seventy six percent but now we're trying to get to the small areas that a limited body to Ryan or limited because of the shape of the the state to fill in those population centers of grown but the Jesus said there. They're working for the first generation yes these will work for the next generation I want you gonna do what are you gonna do the sixty hours it into the next generation your your your yes so when we upgrade to the next generation all the transmission equipment will need to be replaced so we'll have to come and ask for money will fund a grant to be I don't you do that now that makes sense to me this is this is myopic and in my logic sorry. Well this this really to control things here when trying to expand the coverage to get the maximum reach plus we need to look at upgrading the technology as well. Thank you. All right thank you of next is a sub represent to Wooten and then Senator hammer will have the last question. Thank you. Thank you madam chairman I will follow the. Senator Johnson's line a question if you look to it if you upgraded the six that you have now how much would that boosts the range would for oven reach some of these areas all of these areas or they won't make any difference no Sir we've we've we've we've look at that and we would love it that we have the option but most of the obstacles that we have for the primary or the ofschool we do have in these areas is to rein in the contour the terrain and the when you go into in Andrew can answer more this but for example. We can't just boost our little rock signal and make it reach all the way over to the eastern portion the state in the myth this is media market you know they these are you. Is not allowed can't do that so we have to have a a a separate channel that will broadcast in that area if that makes sense anyway it's not an option I know what you're saying what can we just take this I think that what we have to make a stronger signal Sir but I get to incentive that was my first question and is is is is not is not a it's not an option force. Will the will this reach every school district in the state of Arkansas the east Arkansas northwest southeast will ever school district be reached by what you're spending this we're gonna reach ninety seven percent of the population of the state of Arkansas so that leaves three percent of the population that we're still not going to reach most of the ones that we won't reach it is again going to be to contour they're on the and Ballinger the side of a mountain or or you know whatever it may be that it just didn't reach I don't know if the whole school district will be out of that area but I don't know of any fenders look at that there's any actual full school districts but you know it is not it by no means perfect this is ninety six point seven percent or whatever it is so you're still going to have three percent the population is not going to be I have access to the signal. You know were those areas are no Sir because like I said it is primarily a contour reason like I said they're they're on the wrong side of a mountain from where the existing towers that will they won't they won't reach it talk about this talk about the delta. To go to reach all the all of Mississippi and Crittenden and Phillips county Mississippi is Mississippi county is reach currently by the Jonesborough tower and if you look at your map this is the area this not reach now that this along the delta we have a red feel tower that reaches into you know a lot of this area down here so you have to look at the. Yes Sir in in the proposal that we presented the carriers that committee it has a terrain study in there that shows that kind of thing. But again I would just say we we did with this proposal would be reaching ninety seven percent of the population which lot higher than we are now. The chairman. All right we are going to. Senator hammer. Thank you ma'am chair one of you all referenced eighteen T. in your comments while going over here to your far left. A senator to go. At least that's what I thought little trouble here and but did did you all twenty all say something about eighteen T. in their access for usage of these towers or did I misunderstand that night it possible I don't think so no Sir okay alright the moving on on July twenty of twenty one stages five and six is going to require one point two million that's not represented in the request today how are you going to get that money number one and number two do you have to have that money in order for what you're proposing today to be fully operational. Well the remainder of the money with a is is in a part of the proposed grant through the Arkansas department ducation that a. Secretary key has put in that we feel like we will get that will pay for that the that's basically the installation cost and yeah we're gonna we're gonna have that covered from the separate grant we're confident of but you know without this money from the care is active of of eight then that's not possible that makes sense okay let me let me ask your question kind of summarize it what I see is by the time you get all this up and go when it's not really gonna be relevant to the current need that we're dealing with which is the code nineteen because school should be back up and functioning based on all the other meetings we sat in a vaccine hopefully will be done it will be able to get out past where we are what you're actually doing is taking advantage of the cares ACT money that's available to you now in order to be able to build out your system into the future hopefully will never need it but reality possibly we might need it and you'll be position to have ninety seven percent of the state covered by taking advantage of the Care Act money that's available to you now is that a fair statement or would you disagree with anything I said well I wouldn't characterize exactly that way I mean absolutely we're we're looking to take advantage of the funds that are out there the federal code funds to expander tower network but that being said we don't know how how long the crisis will go on we don't know when the next crisis will be but even if there's not one you still got twenty five or twenty six percent of the state that is in rule areas that is under served the that to you can't afford the internet settling cables and don't get any of our Arkansas programming that they would benefit from so yes the the covert crisis and the and miles were brought this to the forefront it provided an opportunity of funding that we typically wouldn't have because we know the state could never wouldn't dream of coming has can you get. Hester. Honey we know better and that. So so yes we are taking advantage of the federal funding this out there and but we think it's it's it's well utilized and well worth it well that's and that's good and I understand were you trying to go but Senator not gonna have to move on pretty soon so make that point and lot times less than others thank you man shall I don't think so I don't think so you make your point and we're going. Point is we got we got a need for testing run take five point something million out of this we got surplus money that we just heard the financial report on while ago should read take money out of this it could be used for testing which I support the call to just don't necessarily agree with the method that we're getting there thank you madam chair alright thank you. All right the. Mr the Representative Murdock you are recognized for a question. Okay thank you madam chair I know that we in a hurry now but was this such a relevant point and and I'm here in there a lot of things that matter I need to drill down a couple things specifically was Senator hammer just talked about I have to say the same thing to some degree we have a noun deal we have a series noun deal and certainly I'm in support what needs to happen for the future so I'm not against is but I want to see us come together to deal with this pandemic now you know whatever these funds are that we have these care font this take care what we have now so. The collaboration point to somebody acts you about eighteen T. Comcast arise and was coming together to make this a real deal now to solve our rule issues are real property is is is my issue so I'm not against what you're doing but I need to get something taking care of this in this season that we're in you understand now we said ninety seven percent would be covered what's the three percent they won't be covered who are the three percent used. And are you going to affect the. I find a seventy three percent that showed up with the three percent the probably won't be covered are any areas that are impossible to reach due to terrain so they'll probably be in the the mountain areas of the Ozarks in the Ouachita mountains those are the people who in valleys of the going to be shattered and market signal so what happens with them. That's a good question They will either have to put up a decent intent or make more of a and if it two to take the office signal all after the ticket the fetal for broadband or internet okay last and on that with three percent of its three percent real people and every body needs to be considered in this weather the nose are or the in the delta so let's make sure what we do one at least give the consideration in that and that's why is important if you can do it that way in the collaborative group that would make it find somebody that have the capacity to be able to reach the Ozark people all members being excluded then we have something that's good for everybody. Thank you this is an end to you know. We recognize there's three percent this is not going to reach for right now it's it's closer to twenty five percent to twenty six percent so we're we're moving the ball down the field so to speak and we like to get to universal one hundred percent and we're trying to work that way it will work like you said with whoever we can to try to fill that gap and to make it happen we're we you know we work in collaboration with other agencies and other organizations all the time and we're happy to try to do everything we can to make sure this is accessible to everyone okay last name could you every time you also use of I have to say something. Was saying something and I'll stop when you see it is so important we've been talking about this for many years and we spend a lot of money. And we still are uncovered. As so many areas. For various reasons that's a concern. I understand. All right thank you of we are seeing the. All right to move on to the senator DISMANG and then we're going to Representative Davis. Thank you madam chair and you know there's been a lot of discussion we're trying to figure out the best ways to utilize this you know these federal funds because they're limited you know dollars their tax dollars that makes some precious we need to make sure that we're doing everything we can to to to see that there utilized in the most efficient way possible and it's my understanding is probably not been the discussion with the department mercy management or game and fish or other folks that have maybe facilities or similar technologies that we could tag along on along with and when I read the implementation timeline you have stage one calls for a hundred and twenty thousand dollars really to do the study and to actually then get the estimates to know what the real costs are going to be I mean it would be and what what I'd like to do madam chair is make a motion that we request the cares act committee to reconsider the request of the five million dollars limited two hundred twenty thousand dollars for the initial study needed and then as that is completed then we can move on to these bigger priced items as we know what they actually are because at this point it's just estimates thank if it can I can I address a. Is that allowed well you know we're under very tight time crunch to utilize these funds and so anything that moves the ball kicks a candy on the road so to speak you know it just draws us out now we are confident that that we're gonna be able to implement this and do all this we have some preliminary discussions and found that out but if three point Senator do you to your point if if we if we get to that first stage and something has happened that certainly this is not feasible all the rest of that money goes back to the cares committee but we we are confident that we'll be able to utilize this money and that I mean is is is identifying the frequencies will be broadcast on in the licensing requirements in this CC we've had discussions and we were pretty confident of that is just you know nothing is a hundred percent but the you know that we may need to funds to to do that so anyway and again this would be to allow for that initial study that needs to take place to fully understand what is going to be required in those additional expenditures I would also make a comment the best way to spend five million dollars is to let everybody know that you've got five million dollars to spend. All right I think we had would set up a motion that you made Senator a motion yes ma'am would you repeat it please for the committee I move that we request the carriage tech committee to reconsider the request a five million dollars limited to the first hundred twenty thousand dollars for the request required for the initial initial arrest or the stage one of the A process for AT and our PBS kids. All right the ladies and gentleman you've heard the motion A we have a question all right senator. Taking. Yes with the I'm and I'm I'm fine with that as long as we can have another contingency I guess. If if this study comes back in of course are trying to move forward to get get school open are we going all say that we're going to have an emergency a LC meeting to do this because with conversation this happened here my idea is that the chairs of a peer nails so you're not going to approve this is a as an emergency item I'm just speculating there but I will say that would be the case so I would think that the full committee would need to come meet so. Madam chair I guess at the question if we do this can we have that I think that agreement on a. Marty Garrity. Senator Hickey you can it would require six days notice unless this body in the motion were to give the chair's authority advance authority to call a meeting within the six days. All right a discussion more discussion on the motion. I think center Dismang had something else madam chair all right. Well I mean if out in a public the implementation timeline the need for those funds you know is not going to exist until after state one and potentially stage to were completed many of those funds can't be spent into those initial hurdles are crossed and so I'm not sure that it even I don't know what the turn around time is for stage one and maybe he can give that information that would be helpful the committee but that would set the time line. Well amended the turn around time it can be can be for fairly quickly put that time line in there is an estimate and kind of a worst case scenario but you refers back to the care is a committee that takes it down the road until they meet again and then I said we have to come back into this meeting again and again you're delaying it two three four weeks and something we're trying to get done by the end of this year to have it have it ready to go and the you know it you know but I understand what you're saying senator but you know I've been in effect I think you're you're killing our proposal if you do that all right keep. Please go ahead senator DISMANG that was going to say that we are discussing the motion yes yes ma'am and so we when we have a we have a motion we have a second we had some questions on it and and it's not the goal to kill it is to make sure that these funds utilized as appropriately at least possible our state one portion of this what I'm asking forced request cares committee release the money for stage one with all the other funds until we actually know what the expenditures are and we're beyond something just besides estimates alright there's still in discussion on the motion senator Hendren you're recognized. Hello hello thank you ma'am payment I I need to understand is this study that we're talking about the engineering and work to get the construction permits from the FCC. Yes stage one would be to apply for the STI is in the licenses and the construction permits for the licenses that which which really to me sounds fairly resume under twenty thousand two four construction permit engineering studies which is the FCC's going to require before they'll authorize you to buy and install equipment correct absolutely yes Kerr and the time frame on those it seems like those are not something that have two or three day turnarounds what what are you talking about for turn around on that the STI use it's a it's a special temporary authority and the FCC can grant that relatively quickly actually quicker than a standard licensing process and we've already talked to the head of the media bureau and television to do that for us so I mean are we talking weeks or months probably for weeks one month to do that to get the study done and submitted to the FCC yes so assuming that we approved everything right now you still wouldn't order equipment and so and enter into anything until the FCC gave you those construction permits at the completion of the study right correct but in parallel to during the work for the FCC we would also trying to get ahead of the curve time wise and stop the hour of people isis and stop the selection of transmitted vendors in microwave in this with the equipment as well so you would begin the pre bind getting everything range and organized okay thanks so that would have been doing that for weeks. Heavy finish senator all right of we're still discussing the motion US senator Chesterfield. Well I understand the motion. If the monies are not going to be used then they can be returned yes ma'am. However if we continue to kick the can down the road the can may never get Kate. And that's what's troubling me about this delay. The children who are being served in these areas need the help as expeditiously as possible. And it would seem to me that was something this important not gonna affect my district our president Dismang district as much as it will for districts across this state and so I am very much concerned about delaying it and then delaying it again and so I'm going to vote against this motion I would urge you to do the same. All right the I'm gonna go to senator Hickey. You're recognized. Thank you ma'am an eight to do so I don't know senator DISMANG was going to. Make an amendment is motion but it looks like he was. So at this time I will yield to yield to him if that's okay because I was going to make a substitute motion by want to hear this that's okay now. Senator DISMANG. You. Manager if we just make sure we're all in agreement on what that amendment. A. I hate Senator Turner push button again please. Thank you. All. here in. I'd like to withdraw my original motion. All right. And I'd like to make a substitute motion I move that we approve an appropriation for a hundred twenty thousand for the study I related to the the Arkansas PBS kids programming and and I. All right discussion. Seeing none. I have a second all those in favor say aye. Yeah. All right. Yes senator DISMANG that so I have a question how does that change effectively change what you did before. At this doesn't required it to take additional time to go back to the cares that committee I was in the initial and standing that any of those request had to originate with the cares act and we do have the ability in this committee to alter those and so that's what this does and so the hundred twenty thousand we would route that we prove it will allow for that appropriation to exist the constructor study and wouldn't have the additional time restraints of having to send it back to the Kerr tech committee in the original motion. But that would have to come back to this committee to to to to to continue the rest of their proposal to get that that is correct which would cost a time problem it will it yes a million and if we're not going to spend the money so the we spent under twenty thousand it comes back that this is going to work the money comes back so I mean it is just what I see would you say and senator DISMANG I understand fiduciary responsibility and all that good stuff conservative thinking that you get there and I agree with this to some degree but what I don't want to do is see that process preclude us from getting up the role in getting this done so I mean if you can figure out a way to do both of those then I'm fine with that a creative motion but one that will. A good motion on one side but he kills the big picture I don't see that I don't see this in anyway is killing the big picture all we're doing is asking for the initial study to take place which is going to allow for the cost estimates and everything else it's needed to actually implement the program if not what we're doing is telling the entire world how much money we have to spend and so what happens when you tell the world how much money you have to spend you're going to have bids in estimates and everything else come for that exact same dollars and so what I'm asking for is for us to pause do the study as is outlined in the proposal from Arkansas PBS and then after that study is complete they can come before and ask for the additional dollars. Needed for full implementation. All right question from of senator Ingram and then Representative Davis. It's not of really a question but in the debate of I would just simply to ask you to vote against this why in the world would we deny a quarter of the people of this state the opportunity to enjoy what three quarters of the state enjoys. All right Representative Davis. Thank you madam chair so to speak in favor of the motion and you know this is an estimate and there is a possibility that they could do their study which the information they've given us as will take a month we will be meeting again in a month that so we can approve the funding on their time line but it since it is an estimate and may come back and say it's it's not five point one million it's six point one million and I want to be sure that when we make this a preparation that they're able to do what they need to do and do it well and do it right. All right the. We're going to. I'm sorry we have so many people on this that we may be here until about. Six o'clock this evening so don't get in a rush I'm coming to the. All right to a Representative love you're next on the key. Thank you madam chair I I I guess on I need to ask a question none of to represent the US senator DISMANG know what now what is it specifically that we're trying to get out of this proposal the information under the proposal so they. Which would preclude us from approving the initial motion. Well in in the time line that was presented by Arkansas PBS there is a national study that has to be completed with the cost estimate of a hundred and twenty thousand dollars it's that study that's actually going to direct what has to happen everything else in this is amended Beyonce just an estimate at this point I think it's prudent for us to ask them to have that study done to make sure that we understand it's going to cost five million dollars or maybe for maybe six or whatever it may be but let's not get ahead of ourselves for just authorized the appropriation at this time for under twenty thousand dollars to authorize the study which is required on the front end and then ultimately this body through the chairs if they would like to because the cares tech funding request is already there can it can improve the additional monies as we know exactly what the what that need is going to be. Okay alright thank you all right of senator Johnson then senator Irvin then senator Hendren and then senator Hickey. Well we're studying can we do the six existing powers what they're they're going to need in the future what what updates and and how much that will cost that Sir seventy five percent of the state. For that hundred twenty thousand. Resent engineers question. to get the pricing for converting our existing six sites to the next generation standards we don't have to employee consulting service CC licensing people to do that but if that's required if you like that in the next with Michael so we can get that it makes sense to me if you're gonna have forty percent of your whole system is going to be new and up to date and the other sixty percent Sir seventy five percent of your customers your you should want that up to date and the same time frame and then it would be good to have that study done or are included yes we can we can provide that. All right Senator Clark and then senator Irvin. Madam chair just a point of order. The. I can't speak up just any time that I wish. And the notice respect. I intended toward the presenters. Of in a course as center Johnson just did they can be asked a question by members at any time but when we're debating a motion it is my understanding that that is that is between us and it's not of have apartment their comments may be yes that that no but they should only be between us unless the rest well it's a call of the chair okay whether the chair lancet thank you all right of senator Irvin. Thank you question senator DISMANG at I think I don't I don't I believe that senator DISMANG motion as about fiduciary and legislative responsibility through the appropriation process and it also is about procurement. And the reason I say that is because he said something that I think that we all need to understand if we say we are going to spend X. amount on this then you better believe every contracts going to come in at that amount and so we believe this really no room for negotiations and we want to make sure that through the procurement process we have the ability to negotiate that to get the best deal possible for the taxpayers of the state of Arkansas so is your motion that you're making not rejecting the idea there premise of this proposal but it's actually an acting fiduciary and legislative appropriation authority and responsibility. I I would agree and I think to try to characterize the motion as killing the project in its entirety is it is just absolutely I mean that there could be nothing farther from the truth and if that is the position of the agency then maybe that speaks to more. An issue with the agency I mean if we don't when a we're asking for the state it's outlined in your proposal if if if you want the program and you want this expanded coverage. Then I would think you would be okay with the study can I can I answer that I don't think so in. The caller that chair note so thank you for the answer so therefore I support your motion. All right senator Hendren. Thank you madam chair and I think there's a lot of misunderstanding about what a study is in this situation this is this is not going out and get cost estimates and asking consultants to come tell us what to do this is hiring an engineering firm to go out and do radio propagation analysis and antenna pattern analysis to determine what they can do that will not cause interference with adjacent stations and and broadcast to two thank you need to know about that has nothing to do with our ability to get an understanding of what the cost is going to be. They comprise transmitters and antennas right now and and put a proposal before us it does have to do with whether or not they can the federal government is going to approve those transmitters and those locations at that power level where they're gonna require different antenna pattern or or or or type of proper process. And the other need understand about the study is Hey it's a hundred twenty thousand dollars that you're not gonna get back if you decide to go forward or not you're paying engineers to go out and do the work and they're going to present this to the FCC for approval for the construction permit having said all that I'm fine with allowing the study to provide to move forward so long as we do not fail to do our responsibility to give them a decision so I guess what I would ask senator DISMANG would he be willing to amend the motion or added provision in the motion that this will be an agenda item it next a LC. About whether not we proceed forward with the entire project or not so that there is certainty that it will come before stuff I mean dollars will come before us they can proceed forward with this study but we will have to give me yes or no answer rather than just trying to kick it down the road and hope it goes away so I guess what I would ask are are you okay with adding that provision that the entire amount would be considered at the next LC meeting next month well number one I I'm a member of this committee and I'm not going to make a motion to add something on to an agenda that that is the profitability chairs of this committee and I can actually take that up prior to us actually need an OS the chair if it can be agreeable to committing to have it on next month's agenda I would okay thank. Senator Hickey you're recognized. I'm a believer in autumn all in favor of what was said but Dismang and senator Hendren with one exception I liked the next meeting not the next month's meeting whenever I originally it done this in the event that the cheers saying that they needed to call meeting of this body because of this and because of the school in the time I would like for us to at least and I'll do that as a substitute motion that we would at least put that in there we may not need it but in the event we do I want you all to have that available to you and us not have to wait to six days. We agree. All right so the substitute motion will be that we suspend the. Suspend the rules for the six days so that we could have that meeting. Can. The form of a motion. All those in favor say aye hi this proposed all right of Representative Dotson. I'm a similar back to senators the motion and adjustment immediate consideration all right this a proper motion of senator DISMANG would you repeat the motion it's changed a few times. I move that we approve a preparation hundred twenty thousand dollars for the study for the Arkansas PBS expansion. Do I need to include a subset motion we just yeah and then also waive the six day requirement for chairs. All right. Thank you all right wouldn't vote on the motion for immediate consideration then we're going to vote on the motion to adopt a senator DISMANG. Motion. AS amended. All right all those in favor of immediate consideration say aye. All those opposed. The motion passes all right you've heard an explanation of senator DISMANG motion as amended. All all those in favor say aye. All those opposed. The motion passes. Going back to of representatives vault. Would like to call the state health department to the table thank you madam chair all right. A Representative Vaught do you want to say a few words about why we have called the health department to the table madam chair during the committee meeting that was a lot of cuts talk about contact tracing and four members thought there was a lot going wrong and not much going in the right direction with contact tracing so they wanted to pull this and have a discussion of full ALC and let a LC decide if the department of health needed the sixteen million dollars to add to contact tracing. All right and they are here today yes I opted to discuss yes ma'am all right yes ma'am thank you would you A introduce yourself please for the record yes ma'am thank you madam chair Stephanie Williams chief of staff of the department of health is your microphone on yes ma'am bullet that Clark please that's fine thank you Stephanie Williams chief staff of the department of health you're recognized thank you madam chair we heard from many many committee members this week great concern it dissatisfaction with the time intervals for notification of lab results both positive and negative of initiating case investigation in a timely manner and the in proceeding with contact tracing for individuals that were potentially exposed we agree that we need to accelerate the timeline and I'm sorry can you hear me yes we agree we need to accelerate the timeline it is a manpower issue for us at this point we are respectfully requesting to move forward with our proposal to utilize to contractors which will triple our capacity to do contact tracing we're also asking for additional funding to expand those contracts to include additional nursing staff for case investigation the goal being timely notification and rapid turn around on the process. All right of we have some questions in the queue of were a senator Johnson. You're recognized over here. Of of. Put this I was contacted by the local constable. And I understand the can you tell me these contractors they do they have any idea about a local area any better than your local constables some constables might be able to the to the to do this contact tracing and some might not. But you don't have travel time if you use your constables in the state of Arkansas and their elected officials I don't know why we're not using those assets rather than contracting. Said the contact tracing is primarily a done by phone and we try to minimize contact with people who who might potentially be infectious so that would be one reason that we would rather not use in person contact if we don't have to you would rather do the contact by phone but we do have contractors prepared to go out and make home visits if needed but we'd rather make the contacts remotely if possible we have worked with the contractors to make sure that they will hire our Kansans who were familiar and no areas in Arkansas and we agree with your point there and we think that's an important part. Maybe it makes sense to me of the contractors you're on the the hire somebody that. Hire somebody that the the area knows and and that that that's one of the constables contacted me is you know this would be a good good use of our our time because a lot of them are older and a lot of them have that time do you for service and that's why they signed up for that so just an idea. I don't know about the money or high doing with these contractors but anyway yes Sir thank you. Senator Irvin you're recognized thank you thank you miss Williams and I'm very much appreciate the of the egg extended amount of time that you all spent yesterday in public health committee meeting talking about this this year really appreciate all those books from the department of health and all the work that you'll have to an annual sat there for a very very long time answering questions about the and so I just wanna make sure I'm real clear. Can you give me the total spends that we have to date on contact tracing the including the sixteen million just give me the the numbers of what we've spent on or what we are planning to spend so the net all the different efforts so the number that the that's actually been spent to date is just over one point two million okay but as far as what appropriation we've given you so you AM gave us appropriation for twenty two million on I believe may twenty seventh and then this is a secondary requested for sixteen million okay so that's twenty two plus the sixteen plus there was five million for contact tracing three U. a mass for the higher and yes that was the the higher a proposal that was done last month and as part of that proposal I think they're total proposal was twenty five point eight million and there was five million in that for contact tracing yes ma'am okay and then there's the other one that's pending that's three out of the seven that will it well it's on the supplemental calendar we don't know if that right now best said that those are the total appropriation requests for. Okay and then of the two contracts that we are having and a question came up Did those two will be able to cover the entire state is that correct yes ma'am that's the expectation for both contractors okay so that would include if we needed because what I don't want to happen see happen I would prefer these together contracts instead of us creating these contact tracing centers across the state and and hiring more people within our government I I'm I'm I guess I'm not I I know we've had to do that with the department of health and I'm fine with adding more employees of the department of health however I'd rather keep it there and I'd rather make sure that we're utilizing the contract process and being able to contract out because there's an end to that instead of because sometimes what we do unfortunately is we will start a new program with the federal grants and will hire employees but then we don't have that federal money that grant money runs out and we have no place are you know then they're gonna want more money to keep that going or to keep those employees employed and hired and so I don't want to see that happen across the state and different pockets and I'm afraid that could happen if we allow that to continue to happen and and and I know that there's been a lot of money given directly to different groups so I just wanna make sure that those are clear contracts and they have a start date and and maybe an end date we hope. but at that wanted to be made for a clear thank you. All right Senator hammer you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair of the money that you have been appropriated already and have received how much have you spent and how much is left. Serve the total amount or the specific contact tracing contact duration contact tracing its one point two million of the twenty two million that we were authorized I am by this body appropriated in may and the difference that is not spent has been used for other purposes or is it still remaining there it's it's remaining there for use by these two contracts if we're approved to move forward with that plan. So help cleared up for me why are we why are you asking for sixteen million more if you haven't spent all the original twenty two million because we anticipate that we're gonna need to exceed the capacity intended for the first two contracts the first two contracts or for them to her three hundred fifty contractors each we need more than that and we also need additional nursing staff part of the problem that we have is with the notification of the pasta cases in completion of the case investigation so we're also asking the contractors to add nursing staff so that would add an additional eighty nurses for the next six months to work with our nurses to complete this case investigations. But but but you only spent one point two. Of the twenty two originally giving you and have they hired up those people or they're in the process or wire why have they not move forward with hiring if they've got if you got the appropriation for the twenty two right they are moving forward with hiring General Dynamics is the first contractor to come online they have started hiring I believe they've hired over three hundred individual so far but we wanted to come before this body and share with you the entire plan the appropriation for that we received in may just bear it it's not quite enough to cover both of these contracts and then it's not enough to cover the addition of the nurses and we need to add those now so we're trying to make sure that we provide you with the plan and let you know what we're doing when we're utilizing these funds okay then let's say I would say is and I had a conversation with another one of my superintendent yesterday not the one that I talked to that contributed to the comments in yesterday's meeting but this is a new one and what he told me was he is having to take his school nurse and dedicate her to this project he's having to hire another nurse to replace that one which is subsequently gonna be costs and that's just one district not all three two hundred seventy five as this goes forward what I want to be watchin is I don't expect these contractors come in and do like we do with the option contract and DHS and they get that contract and they're gonna start Pushin workload down to the local level and then not get reimbursed for it so that that's just. That is just a set of eyes gonna be watching that because before all that cares ACT money gets spent we need to take care of our schools and FOR ask their schools to do something that a contractor out to be doing thank you Sir. All right thank you senator Hendren and then Representative Dotson committee chairman obviously I think there's a lot of discussion about the millions or spending on contract contact tracing I know a lot of us are very frustrated about an including the administration about testing and the inability to get quicker turnaround on testing but at least we're being told dollars are going to fix that it's a problem that we we have the dollars we just can't get it fixed FOR other national type issues but on contact tracing one percent spending these millions of dollars is there any measurable data that shows that less people getting infected because of it for that and what that would correspond to and live center say have you all got a way to measure that so in public health contact tracing is something that we do all the time for various different diseases it is a proven practice if implemented well the problem we're having right now is we're not effectively implementing it because we have delays in testing turnaround time we have delays and notification to the patients of their positive and negative results doing the investigations and get in the the contacts notified in a timely manner if you do it quickly and you do it correctly it definitely works at decreasing the spread our problem is we're not effectively implementing it at this time so is it wise to continue to spend the sixteen million dollars doubling down on it if it's not being effective I think we can get ahead of this and I you know my example is the laboratory testing in In March when we started our public health lab our capacity was limited we only were able to do I think we did fifteen hundred samples and then this month we're on pace to do close to thirty thousand we've already done thirty eight thousand I mean we're ramping up these efforts and I think you know our lab expansion proves that we're serious about this we're trying to move things quickly in this instance we just need to reconcile the timelines bike in our contact tracers and case investigators up to speed and working more quickly so again I come back to kind of the first question and you know I trust the health professionals but I'm an engineer and we look at data and science do you have any measurable way of saying that we spent this sixteen million dollars is gone this week we expect that it will stop. Three thousand people from being infected I. I'm sorry I didn't mean to cut you off no that's just what I'm trying to and the money that we've already spent on contract tracing can we say we estimate based on our study that it has saved this many people from being infected do we have that kind of data I can't qualified that specifically for cope it I think there are studies out there that can quantify for other types of infectious diseases and other types of outbreaks but because it is something different than we've ever seen before and it moves faster but this is a proven strategy we think it'll work okay thank you right alright thank you Representative Dotson and then Representative Burch. Thank you madam chair seven over to your right. Okay sorry so I've been sitting through these meetings all week long listening to the various things public health yesterday was a long meeting appreciate you being here and and taking all those questions it but it seems to me as if from what I've heard that the contact tracing seems to be more of a. I containment strategy and at this point I don't know that we can say that we've contained this virus until you have the testing capacity in a quick turnaround time it seems as if the testing or they can that contact tracing is is Not only ineffective it's kind of a waste of money in so and till we get to that point I'm I'm I don't to to the centers point I don't know that it's a good idea to necessarily double down on it However the the question that I had. Is with regards to what to talk to you about yesterday and ask you about was contracts and what do we have specifically on if you've had a chance to look those contracts up and find out the answer to this but specifically on the the data the personal personal identifiable information that third party entities that were contracting with how we protect that data how do we make sure that that data is not retains by those entities for other purposes I mean we're we're paying and literally millions of dollars and they then are empowered and deputized by the state to go out and collect personal identifiable information they're supposed to put into a system that the health department maintains and then destroys after that point in time but how do we make sure that those entities contractually obligated to not retain any of that information that it that is included in their contract there are spent special requirements that they have to meet to be eligible to be a vendor to do this type of work and special type of data connections and data security security standards they have to make and there are also penalties in their contract so so that is in the contract and we did work with state procurement on the contract and I believe the IT professionals and I believe I know our internal privacy officer and I take professionals reviewed or part of that process and also I believe the division of information services also was able to review and give input on that process in these entities that you're talking about they received a fair and competitive bid process when they're going for these contracts so the process that we started with General Dynamics was a competitive process we receive the appropriation of thank on may the twenty seventh we issued a request for proposals competitive request for proposal. Is on June the fifth we started that process which is pretty link the timeline process we went through I think we got to the question and answer period we have over forty vendors from across the nation that submitted and expressed intent and we got a flood of questions about that same time we had the explosion of cases at that point the decision was made that it was going to take too long to to move through that competitive process fully and to you know with stand a challenge that would potentially come at the end it would further delay the process so office of state procurement authorized the use of an emergency procurement method they stepped in and oversaw that process so we did utilize the information that we have collected to quickly identify vendors that were interested and have the capacity and met the technical review but it did go through an expedited started as a competitive process then morphed into an emergency procurement process for the General Dynamics and then also for the second as well what what's the name of the second and Arkansas foundation for medical care in and the other one that we're going to take up later potentially that did not go through any sort of nice we have not that has not that's yet to be determined if that's needed thank you all right the Representative Burch. Thank you madam chair I'm over here sorry back the storage so I'm sorry thank you so are independent our our our county health departments are stretched beyond imagination right now many of them because they've had to contribute in our in our other personnel to help with the contact our but the tracing how are we going to get those back and if so how soon when the money is put forward these contracted that is part of the intent is we are pulling nurses from across our local health units and across different programs to do this work so when we get the contractors and enroll in and if we're able to also enhance nursing capacity and then those individuals would be able to return to their normal duties in our health units get AT A on that if if we if if we get this approval and then we'll move forward the executing that plan we're already starting to do that since General Dynamics it's hard staff and is starting to do this work were able to return employee return employees to other duties right now though we still are transitioning some of those two case investigation so we haven't been able to return an equal number I guess is what I'm trying to say they've hired three hundred we haven't been able to return three hundred folks to regular duties yet because we're still community prioritizing some of the rural health departments that are so strange right now. Yes thank you. All right of. Senator Hickey. And yes ma'am I just I'm a little I'm a little confused I wanna make sure I understand something there was an original was an original twenty two million dollars an appropriation we did yes Sir and you said we've only spent one point two of that. So at this point just let so by understand why do we need the additional sixteen million at this point we've only spent one point two of the other is it for the contracts is that. So my understanding was it's better to come forward and explain the plan and go ahead and and let this body evaluate the plan and Mr believe may be able to help me explain why we're asking for the appropriation at this point but that was our understanding was that was the appropriate process to go through is to go ahead and bring it to you to you all. Okay. Maybe I would like to hear from Mr believed in because I know I don't like I guess until we need the money for us to do the appropriation because that is one thing that with this cares money that this body basically that's how we either approve or disapprove stuff is because there's enough appropriation or not so Mr blade I would like to hear that this is to ensure you're recognized A Jake we DFA office a budget that's correct and you know we want to present to the body the plan that we had moving forward on this also as I think Stephanie mention we are getting up and rolling very quickly on this will be meeting again in a month that a lot will transpire between now and then so the I think plan was to present this get the approval of this body and move forward one thing to keep in mind also is that our process and I can get into this more when we get into the the steering committee report this later on in the agenda our process is the money actually never leaves the treasury until we get an invoice from the department which is then payable so we will be tracking that money we're sending over reports to this body regularly on how those funds are going out the door and and for what purpose and that money will not be going out until the health department encourages the actual expenses. So we actually don't need the appropriation today is what I mean do you think you're on it before the next month I just. I hate I hate getting ahead of ourselves I mean we don't know what's going to transpire source vaccines and all this is just if we've got the if we got the appropriation got that much there. And we don't think we're only before the next day see meeting I just prefer not to not to go forward with that until we actually that needs or. So Joe Thompson who is our CFO is here in. It would really just depend on the question of how quickly we can move on this and how quickly the we can come into a place where we need to be able to spend those dollars. We've got at so basically we still have twenty million dollars left from the initial appropriation is that correct. A entities yourself please for the record. Morning I'm Joe Thompson chief financial officer for the department of health a yes Sir we initiate the R. F. P. and we started a contract the first contract on July first so we are still ramping up with General Dynamics to get everything in place the second contract with a FMC has not is currently I think is the fictive this week so we have encouraged any costs yet. So how much longer I'll and again it looks like there's twenty and a half million dollars left in that original appropriation how long is how long is that going to carry use that will carry for a month. Aren't we anticipate. About. Let me get my my figures are from me as far as how much. The monthly expenses are. We look at one point seven million dollars per month so we look we'll have an updated report today as far as we do for our weekly updates on expenditures for contact tracing so once we get both of the contracts up in going we're looking at least approximately four million dollars hopefully by this time next month. And you're not sitting on any invoices that you have to pay. So you should have more than ample no appropriation to carry zones we don't have to do the appropriation today I wouldn't think you're correct so we could hot often it's much I think that's probably from my standpoint I think that was prudent I mean we're going to be meeting in as you heard we may even have a extra meeting in there it looks like to meet with that original we should just I understand what our plan is but it's for the money goes I think it's this body should wait on that. From that much yes Sir it should be a problem with operations thank you ma'am all right well to this is our last question before we turn it back to Representative Vaught for motion of Representative love. I guess how how much is each of the contracts. It's contract is twenty million dollars okay so the so you you're looking at the obligation versus versus I guess how much we actually were actually spending so if we have to contract this forty million dollars in. I guess the first appropriation was twenty two million then the second a sixteen million that actually. There doesn't even and to the your rating dollars that we need so you're correct it doesn't add a we are splitting the funding between our cares exterior committee for the first six months and then remaining will come from another federal funding source another grant okay all right so so basically we're looking at obligation you wanted a proper appropriation FOR obligations yes is the actual spent okay thank you you're welcome. All right the Representative Vaught. Thank you madam chair I'd like to make a motion that we hold this until next month here it I'll say doesn't have to go back to peer but can you just go here. All right we have a motion and a second all those in question all right. So it's it'll be back on the agenda just as the other one we just handled I guess I and I'm fine with that my eye and I understand you're not gonna have to pay the cash out but is are going to be any issue with signing a contract without having this approved. We do have language in our contract that is contingent on funding so we should not be a problem with sign a contract thank you you're welcome all right. Question all right question. Representative Wardlaw thank you madam chair is this question for staff I guess for the committee but this can also go on this special agenda for special called meeting if need be correct yes that's the call of the chairs thank you. All right you've heard the motion to have a second. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed motion carries all right we're moving on down to number ten. Under item itself. And of Senator Scott Flippo you're recognized for report on the review committee thank you madam chair. Review subcommittee met on Tuesday and reviewed a lease agreement disclosure in the west grants and services contracts no items were held and I move adoption of the report. Any questions. All right. We have a second we heard the motion we have a second all those in favor say aye. All those opposed motion passes alright moving on down. Of. Uniformed personnel classification compensation plan Representative Wooten you're recognized for your report. Have to. Your your own thank you thank you madam chair. Of the the personnel subcommittee. Met on Tuesday July twenty first of this week. In the committee received and discuss various reports that required no action the committee also reviewed a new request as well as request from continuations made the institutions of higher ed and executive branch agencies and departments and these are listed in the report on items four through eleven and I'll be happy to take any questions and I moved for adoption of the report at the proper time all right. Questions seeing none all those in that you've heard the motion I have a second. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed alright moving on down to highway commission review an adviser Senator Jonathan Dismang. Thank you madam chair the how we commission review an advisory subcommittee men on Wednesday July twenty second the subcommittee heard recommendations on organizational structure in people capabilities for male sees consulting got house in her responses to the recommendations from the department transportation I'm the for adoption to report all right we have a motion to have a second all those in favor say aye all those opposed motion carries right of. Right item G.. this is a special sub subcommittee on data sharing Senator Jane English ready for your report thank you that the data sharing and data driven decision making subcommittee met on July twentieth at nine AM in the big mac room a that the statewide longitudinal data system was presented along with the twenty nineteen economic security report and as well as a presentation from the health department on their co that nineteen data collection and disbursement I move that this. Be adopted all right we have a motion on the floor to have a second. All the set I have a second all those in favor say aye all those opposed motion carries all right of we're going to start with our. Reviewed communication we only need a motion for H. three a and H. three B. so if you will look at that on your agenda. This is the Arkansas development finance authority a. I need a motion to file this is reviewed does anybody have any questions. I have a have a motion. Don't have a second okay all those in favor say all those in favor say aye all those opposed motion carries and then on be. A. It just kinda look at that are there any questions on the. Seeing none do I have a motion. I have a motion to have a second. All right all those in favor say aye all those that are opposed motion carries. You have a question on any of the others. Under item three. All right seeing none. Which is just a. Can. Thank. New business. Alright ladies and gentleman we are. Surprisingly at new business does anyone have any new business. all right we were going to have to just the agenda we have someone that was later on the agenda but they has a plane to catch in with permission of the committee I'd like a four. Mr the. In any fixture to please come to the table and introduce yourselves please and and by the way that's on the back page and it's number three. Alright you're recognized thank you madam chair Amy fetch your secretary of transformation and shared services. All right. You would you introduce yourself for the record please. Thank you for having me on Brian outlay presidency a periscope holdings. Alright you're recognized thank you for letting us present to this committee we just wanted to give you an update on the E. procurement for the state of Arkansas I've been working on E. procurement since two thousand seventeen as chief transformation officer we work closely with the transformation advisory board that had four of your members on on the board as well. we we went through at the time S. P. was still under DFA so we went through a competitive our our if P.. it in twenty eighteen as that came through transformation was happening I had been announced to take over in July of last year so they waited at that point when we looked at the bids they were in the thirty five to seventy five million dollar range and we made the decision that that was not economical for us at that time to award that bid. I had also found out through our stating he procurement about a model out of taxes periscope holdings which has a self funded model. They come in and implement the system integrated with asus they train and work with vendors at no cost to the state. So we entered into a cooperative by contract through the D. I. R. from Texas we were told we didn't have to do a contract because this is a zero cost but we went ahead and entered into it through the cooperative and we have began the process the way the self pay model works is a one percent one percent convenience fee to the vendor not to the state. It's very similar to what you all pay if you go on to do your property tax online or if you renew your vehicle tax online there's a convenience fee tacked on to that. So that's how the self pay model works and Brian can tell us more about it with his presentation. Alright you're recognized. Thank you. First thank you for having me great to be here and talking about E. procurement and saving the state money Start out with we launched the first phase of this in less than sixty days which actually was a was a record for implementation for us I want to thank the DFA in the transformation staff they done a fabulous job from the start of the project. Just really quick the program to a procurement system it's not just for the departments in the state it's also for cities counties special districts K. through twelve and universities can use the system. May the. It's fully automated digital work flow so you can track everything through the system digitally you can see where you know payments are you can see where your contracts are you expand the use of the contracts from online shopping so there's a shopping experience consumer shopping experience so you expand that usage and then integrates the asus. Our solution is the procurement solution we've implemented in eight states in over a thousand agencies across the U. us. The funny model is zero cost to the state budget or general revenue fund it's a one percent convenience fee that is optional it's just like when you pay your property tax online. You can pay that convenience fee or you can take it up and you can pay at you know you can pay it locally D.. Convenience fee is if a vendor chooses not to pay that then they don't but they're not the market place but they can still get their contracts ordered and and state agencies can still order author contracts. The estimated total revenue off the project and it is an estimate from our best guess numbers is about twenty point six million dollars over five years and twenty percent of that goes to the state four point one million. So in our business we say transformations not a choice because the numbers tell you the savings you can get and this is not analysts numbers these are numbers we're seeing across our enterprise from our states and in local entities that use the product. So cycle times drop forty and forty five percent that that's efficiency with staff we've seen over a thirty percent reduction in cost because you increase volumes as you bring it on line and as you get more people buying off of it the cities and the counties in it lowers your losure cost any other great deal about this project as you increase vendor participation seventy five percent that's what also helps you get better pricing and remember this is not just buying office state contract this is all procurement so there's gonna be billions running through the system that have no fee whatsoever. So just a little bit about periscope we were found in two thousand one I'm on the original founders as I said eight states. Thousand agencies but we also have over five hundred thousand suppliers that utilize the system every day. Just some relevant numbers on another state that we've implemented it's actually the state of Massachusetts. They do one billion orders through the system every year at their state level. They do over half a billion orders through it on their state contract at the local level. The number I really like in this presentation that the that we we we strive to do is the five hundred eighty percent up tick in vendor participation purchase not better but the the veteran owned companies getting awards so we really concentrate on those small businesses those veteran owned businesses in the system and helping them get equal access and an equal participation but of massive up tick in the the veteran owned businesses. Three hundred twenty five local entities use it they've seen fifteen percent increase in their state contracts and I have over twenty five hundred or double contracts today Sir we we've got a number of questions okay and a lot of us were here in the subcommittee and we saw the slide show so I'm going to go to questions and if some of those come to your slide you can go to those slides. Perfect of. Representative Senator hammer you're first on the queue thank you Mr chair mistrust Lee clarify how many state you're currently operating in now. Eight. Have you been in stage before where they've utilize your system but after having of time to analyze the benefits or lack of benefits no longer use your system. Yeah we've been in states for eight years and then they moved on to different solutions after the contract expired. I'm a stage were you in then that they chose not to utilize your contract. we've had to. And what was the reason that they chose not to continue to contract they to get back to our if P. and in one state we lost our iffy and the other state we chose not to bid. Okay and then with regards to the vendor so choose not to participate how are they able to access doing business with the state and what will it cost them. They can access through the PDP system and they can access the the vendor portal they're just not on the market place. That the locals by off of. So they have still full access to the system they still get their contractor email to own their they still get bids solicitations they still get P. O. sent to home they still see their payments. But they don't have to pay the one percent or they pay a higher price house that we're gonna have to pay the one percent it's just they're not the market place. Okay I'll yield thank you Mr. Okay Senator Representative Dotson you're next. At that answer my question thank you thank you Representative Eubanks. Thank you Mr chair of this questions for this factor is the does the state have any administrative costs involved in this because I see there get an. That point two percent back to the state and I was wondering if the state doesn't have any any cost why we just don't reduce the convenience fifty two point eight instead of a full percent we do have staffing costs associated with them the administration of the project. Okay thank you. I think a follow up to represent Eubanks question would be does the percentage coming back covered that costs that you have. I would have to get back with you on that because we have procurement staff in every department and I do not know the total salaries on that. Alright I expect to see that at the next council meeting and and we wanted to staff a number of days before council so we can have it out in our packets okay Senator rice you're recognized. Just quickly and as mentioned by Mr I'm sorry but you gave the figure and subcommittees of the prospect and your purchasing dollars what was that. Well. The most recent information we have of course would be for FY nineteen and so we just took a snapshot of the commodity spend in twenty nineteen which was seventy five seventy four million dollars so one percent of that would be seven hundred and forty four thousand which would be split and the state would bring in approximately a hundred and forty nine thousand dollars. And just for clarification legislatures not involved in this we don't have to say this is a courtesy that that you're given this report that correct. This is not reviewed or approved through a cooperative contract yes Sir thank you. The. Yes ma'am and I know that you not talk on the phone I'd ask you at that time Did you or do you have an a or somebody did we do any type of analysis or pro forma as it would compare to if we had actually spent the money. As compared us just doing it through this company did we do any of those that we have in writing that we can provide to the members I do not have anything in writing senator Hickey we did look at some of the costs associated to the state through procurement as we do it now versus the new method and we've we found savings okay Aaron or those something that we're to reduce to writing that we can look at no Sir mmhm. That's bothersome the may and I understand what you said that you've done it through the cooperative purchasing agreement but I don't know that there's any not any calls to the state that calm it bothers me. One additional thing how do you can the state get out of this at any time can we get out to more are we obligated for a certain period we're in a five year contract with periscope. So we have we have to stay with this for the whole five years. I'm not certain if there's an out clause in it Brian are you. Not certain. And and it may be is good a contract is or is in my really save the state money but to sit down here and talk about something of this magnitude and this size and the amount of commodities that pass through. The institution like this and FOR they're not to be any type of pro forma that would show if we just went in and actually bought it and I understand that the funds were there but we could figure out some way to secure only if we had to. As a whole lot of things but to not have something like that is just as inefficient as anything I've ever seen so I wish that we would have done it here but in the future I would at least hold that whenever we enter into a contract this of any of any size but of this magnitude that we could present that to this body. That's all I have Mr chair. Thank you senator I totally agree with you which is part of the reason I asked the question about the cost and how that was going to play out through the percentage we're getting back I think we are to be able to see those numbers when we hear about these contracts. Senator Chesterfield you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chair I guess I'm just devastated because I didn't think something of that magnitude would happen without us having input in it. so we wouldn't let me see if I understand because ACT. I'm I'm not the mathematical person here but we have entered into a five year contract. Yes ma'am sole source. We've entered into a five year contract with no costs associated with it so you see you are not required by that state procurement law to do it through an RFP we did run in our S. P. because we wanted to be transparent and and see what without their. But but thirty five million at the lease was too much for us to spend up front. But we were in the contract now yes ma'am the five years yes ma'am. What are the claw backs in the contract. I do not know what I would have to get back to you on that I don't I have seen the contract but I do not recall. Okay let. Wondering on include tools. The incredible you have entered into a contract if they don't do what they say they're going to do you don't know what actions were supposed to take it they don't. There there's SO agreement with the contract if don't do out that secure me what that means there's a service level agreement in the contract that spells out what we have to provide as a vendor from the if you don't like and if we don't there are money claw backs their cancellations of the contract claw backs there a list of a whole bunch of SLA eighties and and getting money back to the state and and it's it's a pretty detailed SLA. That's a state service level agreement you know what the climax are. But the director of the department didn't know what to close. Sign a lot of contracts so I have reviewed I just don't recall. First of all I don't think the state in Raleigh enter into a contract this five years period. I hope that this allows us each year to review this is this is even come under review. Is there any legislative review of the process year by year. Our system be one of those optim things that we had to deal with for years and years and just stuck with it I believe at current procurement law and security you can correct me but it's not record a cooperative contract does not come before the legislative the boards do we get audited I mean how do we know that they're spending them will be audited yes by on it yes ma'am okay so at least we have that Senator I'm I'm just amazed that no I wasn't stopping you I was just giving you insight US senator Flippo was going to answer your question about review. Senator Flippo I recognize you thank you Mr chair there Chesterfield is our. Current criminal all states that because this is not an expenditure of state funds you are correct that this does not have to come back for review at any point so I just want to clarify that you're correct in that also why does not. Thank you Mr. Thank you. Senator hammer will let you get back in the queue I took you out for on accident Representative love you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chair I guess is the question a clearly in regards to since this is I guess zero cost contract so is there not an appropriation calls in this contract. There's not an appropriation clause in the contract. Okay so moving for and I'm just telling this for the legislature because I've never sign a. we should always have a non appropriation clause in every contract that we have with the legislature. I know that you're saying this is zero cost contract. But there is there's a call somewhere in so if we don't if we don't put forth an appropriation then how do we carry out of contract with this company how do we get cover that there will have to be appropriation for the twenty percent of the convenience fee that comes back into the states which we will ask for. Okay. All right thank you. All right Representative Payton you're recognized for a question. Thank you madam chair and this may be more to staffing chair than anything but I challenge in the idea that this is a no cost contract of the vendors I have to pay a one percent fee they have to add that into their cost which in turn the state pays so it's not a no cost contract but if it truly was a no cost contract. You could violated withdrawal from it. And suffer no penalty because you're under no financial obligation to pay them anything there on harmed. If you breach the contract. So is there any clause in this contract that asserts a cost or find to the state for breaching. No okay thank you thank you madam chair. Right thank you Representative Lundstrum you're next. You mentioned a twenty percent fee that we would be responsible for how much is that. No we're not responsible for it it'll be twenty percent that comes back to the state of the one percent convenience fee can what how much is the one percent convenience fee and who pays that the vendor pays it and so at what I was saying we really can't give an accurate amount. Air scope is estimated as he said it would be about four million coming back to the state but that's really just looking at similar size states in the savings I've seen there this is also available to be used by cities counties school districts and universities at no fee to them no charge for the for them so we we don't really have a history on their spending so that's one reason we can't give an exact number. Okay I'm I'm just a little bit confused or setting up a profit center for someone which I'm a capitalist I think that's correct. It's just the sounds all really strange. Some I'm a little lost it's a sixteen million dollar procurement for periscopes of somebody's making money so that's good. So how was that were. How are they. Somebody's paying the bill. So what I'm missing the connection help me here. It allows us to implement a model where we don't have cost up front to the state of that thirty five to seventy five million dollars. To bring our procurement process up to date the also be saving said the state because of the bulk purchasing power through the market place. All right the. Representative amend sorry Senator hammer and then Representative Murdock. Thank you Mr chair two questions one Mister Utley. If it's not proprietary information how far out do you anticipate a five year contract you're going to be paying the front load expense to do this verses eight converting into a profitable adventure for you. well you can see on the presentation will be employment will be investing two point eight million up front where we think will start making money after the two point eight millions invested the from a cash flow perspective so yeah we're investing considerable out amount of money where if it was a straight sass services DO you be paying the vendor up front so it's a it's a you know the the two the two great public private partnership. Does that not translate into a cost shift to. The citizens and to the vendors. By what you just described or. No Sir no Sir I'm and meet an RFP the state would pay thirty five to seventy five million. Sass fees you know implementation fees this has a whole extra component to it where we roll out to the locals we train the locals we stay here and work with the locals work with the agencies market the contracts market the system where typically when you just by software you do the implementation and then the software vendor leads and the state's left to kind of run the system where here we're we're here for the long haul we move into town we you know we're we're here to make sure it successful. All right so you will be hiring or can't incentives whatever just say absolutely okay and then Amy. Without the cost analysis how did you arrive at the conclusion that you knew it would cost. The thirty five million whereas going with them is the less expensive route if you didn't have the cost analysis on the front in other than you took bids and you got a bit range from thirty three million to Oxford out what you mention day in committee. That that is how we arrived that it would be less cost to the state the thirty five million from other vendors. Two seventy five million versus no cost to the state. All right thank you Mr chair. Right of. Representative Murdock. Thank you madam chair let me let me see if I understand how this is on route will begin so all the food be zero cost to the state. Then a benefit to the state of a twenty five million dollars total savings the an inside of the deal with the vendors is with the fees come you get your money from the vendors the fees in the manipulation for lack of a better word happens within the deals at the end of the day the state pays nothing. And the and they are subject to a possible twenty five million dollars savings that's what you're promising that's best of perspective that's the services were providing right there that that is it is an estimated it is the savings that we're we're actually putting the feet on the ground to do all this work yes Sir okay the director just how what is our risk how can we lose tell me where I'm missing. Where the state of Arkansas. Run into a problem you have you have the due diligence told us the good the bad and the ugly situation no situations all pretty tell us the other side of the coin. Well we could have spent the money up front and then we would also have to have the the staff to implement it we would have that the time frame to do that we would also have to keep the software updated if it was a purchase up front we're not and have the on going at dates and support so so that's the difference so what are vendors and does that will be doing the work for our Kansans if you will and even some our Kansans Dan we're giving that authority to somebody else to manage the. To manage these operations of of from contracts except for the working of the deal. No no we're not that and then the the we don't take over the Tory to manage the contracts the the the the state staff still manages the contracts what we're managing is the system the training the the on going marketing of the contracts to the locals the training for the locals it's really system oriented and marking the contracts the state the state still does the the R. F. peas the bids the contracts those kind of things it's you know what happens a lot in the software world is that did vendors come in you pass ask the and they kind of go away this way we're here or training or making sure the system works. Thank you mention. All right Representative would you're recognized for a question. So really what we're talking about forming here is a cool opportunity. Between this the school districts in the state. This call is not gonna be any cost. To our entities within the state of Arkansas is that correct. That's a great way to explain it there the it then it's automating that the the holder motion of that system is what you're talking about yes. So. You're gonna get one person the the vendors are going to pay one percent. Good to initiate a contract is that correct. No Sir. The vendors will pay one percent if they have a statewide contract. And it's been something's bought through the market places which is which is one piece of the system a great way to kind of explain this in a and a little different way as you use P. carts in the state right so you have a peacock contract so one of the under except the P. card there is a fee tacked on to that summer between two and three percent I don't know what the status negotiated here and then there's a rebate given back to the state this is the exact same concept contract type thing is that is that it's convenience. We look for did I understand correctly we're going with four million of that yes Sir will rebate back you have any estimate on what the school district in the municipalities would realize. No Sir because we don't have any numbers on there spent their expenses. And then we'll save twenty five million. If you bought that's the if you bought all those services up front it would cost you about twenty five million just like if you bought off the R. P. it because the state somewhere between thirty five and seventy five million. If you just paid for it. Okay. So. It in in reality there is there is a cost. To us. To the study. The there is no cost because the convenience fee is not that is. That's not a cost that the state's pain for this is a list of numbers of what it would pay for. From general funds if it did a contract for software and services. Thank you madam chairman alright thank you ladies and gentleman we. He's me appreciate her report and done. We just thank you for coming thank you thank you so much ladies and gentleman. Ladies and gentleman we are going. To batch. The interim study proposals. Unless there is an objection. Seeing none. Do I have a motion to back to the intern study proposals. All right I have a motion to have a second right all those in favor say aye. All those opposed all right now we're going to go to the of supplemental agenda. All right to do I have a motion to suspend the rules so that we can take that a. All right have a motion to have a second all those in favor say aye all those opposed. Alright let me try to hear it one more time. I think I was hearing a lot of the here. But not much over here so let's try it again. All right the. I need to I've got a motion and a second all those in favor to suspend the rules to take up the supplemental agenda say aye. All those opposed no. Let's do a roll call. Can I would undermine the chamber three hands one. What what we are let us do this first all right I need three hands to divide the chambers all right one two three all right all right of Representative Murdock you're ready we're ready for your questions. Yes. Hi I have two others that would like to ask a question Representative Wooten. Ready for question. All right the senator DISMANG. No ma'am I. Well what we're voting on is it is not considering all these items and entirety needs and I'm I'm sorry I'm gonna miss my desk I was trying to find what it is it's just too of to take up the supplemental agenda that's and I'm trying to find it there. Okay. And so we have a roll call we are going to divide the chambers. Going to go house or Senate for a. I think will. All right. The move. That's a good question just meant. Yes. All right to. Which they could be but we could also take them up as emergency actions. All right. Exactly exactly all right to. We're going to start with the house. Mrs Garrity. Representative Bragg. Represent break as a No Representative Burch. Represent bridges and no. Representative Cozart. Representative first alternate Representative Pilkington. Second alternate Representative Gonzalez. Represent Davis. Representative Deffenbaugh. Representative from by not answering represent petty first alternate represent petty. Second alternate Representative Justin Boyd. Representative Douglas. Okay Representative Eubanks. Representative Deborah Ferguson. Each. First alternate Representative Monte Hodges. Second Representative a second alternate represents speaks. Representative Kenneth Ferguson. He is Representative fielding. Representative Charlene Fite. Representative Lanny Fite. Representative Godfrey. Representative lane Jean. Is it yes Representative love. Representative mark Lowery. Representative McNair. Representative Miller. Representative first alternate represented Kelly. A second alternate Representative Meeks. Representative Murdock. Representation. Representative Lynch. Representative McCollum. Representative rushing. Representative shepherd. Representative Lundstrum. Representative Sullivan. Representative Vaught. Representative would occur. Yes. Representative Womack. Representative wooden. Representative Dotson. Representative Wardlaw is a yes. Ladies and gentleman the motion failed so we will not take up the supplemental agenda and that concludes our. What. That concludes the meeting we are adjourned.