Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC)

And you can see that one penny each penny is. Worth about five hundred seventy two million dollars for gross collections. Pages two three and four reflect gross collections of both the general and special revenues. And the. Total five page for about seven billion. For general revenues in two point three four billion for special. Page five is a. Showing you gross to net that that comes off the top for both general. And special so the net at the end of the year five point seven five billion for general in two point two eight four special. Thank you six seven eight reflect the distributions of all general and special. Revenue. It looks a bit like an RSA. Schedule and then. At the bottom of page eight you can see the same totals for both general and special. Page nine is again showing you the gross to net but it compares fiscal year twenty over fiscal year nineteen. And the difference there negative two point eight four percent for the year. Pages ten eleven reflect. The fiscal year twenty. G. R. distributions compared to fiscal year nineteen. The nice thing about this schedule is the column in the far right shows you the winners and losers very quickly. And finally Mr chairman page twelve shows the educational excellence trust fund distribution. For the year and also compares it to last year and you can see. equal growth rates to all components at one point nine seven percent. And if if you want because I'll be glad to take questions on this particular report. Mister Wilson I just carry on with the rest the report I have no questions is for July twenty twenty is due to the first month of the twenty one fiscal year. the front page reflects. two hundred and fifty million dollars of. Above the same month last year for a growth rate of about forty eight percent. On the gross collections in on the net two hundred three million dollars the growth rate there about forty four percent. During patient graph you can see that the. The first month produce fifty two point seven million above the official forecast. In one more page to the spreadsheet. A you can see gross receipts for the month up fourteen percent and the income taxes ninety three percent. Most of that of course due to the shifting of the due date for income taxes. With that I'll be glad to take any questions Mister chairman. Any questions from the committee. Absent of love you're recognized for a question thank you Mr chair so Mister Wilson Let me see how how one opposes. When will we know if if we if we took a dip in in revenue I mean I know that we pushed it back in we're we're doing the collection so they're high now that will will we know if if we really actually lost funds to regain funds if we have a true surplus or. Is is there any way of of kind identifying that that right now. Yes Sir going back to the June. Report which I know you don't have in front of you but we we've been through this you can see that for the year of the income taxes. FOR the withholding only. Which is a good margin of of a good metric okay for the whole year it only grew one point seven percent that's subpar. So they're they're certainly hit. From the. Endemic driven recession. The month of July is such an anomaly because of the changing the due date. That's that's a tough one especially when you're trying to keep up a good day series to draw forecasts. He really misses the day the truth But we will of. We can go back through the reports and and I can send you a summary if you like yeah out I just wanna see kinda. If if. Minus the if if there is any direct I mean. I know you just gave me the metric of one point seven which isn't he you service A bill pretty four growth and then what you sent. I sent am yes is that. That that shows you the the the decrease in income tax collections. But just withholding which which is not affected by. The due date okay affected by the pandemic. Someone should in Norman to be as far as a percent lines. Will the year before find find it. For instance. For the whole year of. If what twenty. The. Collections due to withholding only was about two point eight two billion and that's only like I said one point seven up from the previous year of two point seven seven so okay we slid back you know. It was all good until as you know mid March catching. If I can find the No I don't have it with me sorry. But I can I can put it together very quickly all right thank you thank you Mr chair. Thank you Representative senator DISMANG. Thank you Mr chairman and and it really is kind of piggy back on what you're talking about in regards to you know the shift that transpired in regards to collection you know there's some assumption that that would help hopefully helps moved out what happened last physical year in and push on those dollars helps without this current fiscal year I guess that's what you're seeing with the final payments on individual income taxes not getting paid on a dissipate that those will. You know it will will have continued month over month until we get into the end of the October fifteenth. Extended due date as people put off those those payments it is that you think that's a fairly. Correct and at the same time we can anticipate. You know that there's going to be any right you know continuance of. Of that in in if you go back to me the biggest thing that we're looking at as far as what direction we headed in off that report on independent individual income tax to be the drop of four point two percent withholding right of it yet so if you don't mind can comment on that and and kind of. How you think it needs to play out. You can see the the. The other. Ridiculous numbers on final payments I mean it's just. Individuals two hundred one million for the month of July versus last you live ten million. there's definitely shift of that due date showing up. We actually had in June. the committee June numbers with actually showed a a a positive growth rate in sales and use. as as you commented last month. Without the further stimulus were looking into a double dip A Debbie shape. So in into o'connor's. gets it together for some kind of relief. I think I thank of. Our subscription services are leaning toward double dip but the last the last package I saw from ages assume that Congress is going to do that in in their forecasts they showed. Some pretty nice resilience actually so haven't heard from moody's this but I was hoping to get that last night but. I was hoping to get it. And hope this soon to double dip to so we can look at the difference but I don't have that yet. Thanks under this Wilson thank you very much for your report all right thanks always great report. US center eads four rules report. You're recognized. Thank you Mr chair the subcommittee met on Wednesday August nineteenth a doctor for the executive subcommittee concerning approval of an emergency rule one rule is deferred to the September agenda for the agency's request all the rules were reviewed and approved including two rules with changes agreed to call upon by the agency during discussion at the subcommittee meeting and these are noted in the report subcommittee also heard agency updates on delinquent rulemaking under ACT five seventeen of two thousand nineteen and I move adoption of this report. Proper motion carried any questions or discussion on report. Seeing none I have a second all those in favor say aye. All opposed I seven think Senator. We'll come come along to senator MALOCH. For the peer report center Malek you're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman the peer subcommittee met on Tuesday August eighteenth of the subcommittee approved various temporary appropriation request some appropriation and fund transfers the rainy day fund transfer and cares appropriation request other was one cares request it was referred to the to this Legislative Council without a recommendation that Saddam B. to a in the report that's the hundred fifty million dollars to the cities and counties and we'll come back to that later in the report also there was a discussion in the meeting about whether the health department had sufficient appropriation and funding to respond to the pandemic when the cares act committee was considering other requests the concern there was that they did want to make the expand all of the one point two five billion and then the health department come back with some needs so there was a request that representatives of the health department address the Legislative Council today regarding whether they had a lot of support to respond to these needs so at this time if we have someone from the health department to come forward who will calls and address that before I continue with report thank you senator not see miss Williams coming for. You guys would introduce yourself for the record and you're recognized to answer those questions from peer. Thank you Mr chair good morning I'm Stephanie Williams I'm chief of staff of the department of health and good morning I'm Joe Thompson chief financial officer for the department of health. So today the department of health has received four awards from the cares act steering committee which were also approved by this body the first award was for general operations to respond to the pandemic and included personal protective equipment support for the quarantine facility contact tracing laboratory testing and supplies miscellaneous items and IT equipment. This initial award was also approved for a supplemental and it brought the total to seventy four thousand a hundred and eighteen seven seven hundred five so basically seventy four million with the additional supplemental sixteen million that was approved last month of this funding we have expanded or committed nineteen million seven hundred and fifty. Thousand six hundred and thirty eight dollars and fifty four cents which is roughly twenty six percent just over twenty six percent of that total award so are remaining balances just over fifty four million for this first award from the cares ACT steering committee. The second was for media and the total of that award was one point five million we've expanded one point one nine nine two nine three three seven sorry I should have had more coffee if I'm just gonna try to spit out numbers this morning I'm terribly sorry and we have about three hundred thousand of that award remaining. The next award was the re opening Arkansas higher ed institutions plan this award total twenty eight point two million it included PP supplies for institutions of higher ed also testing supplies and equipment contact tracing and surveillance funding and of this award we have expanded three million six hundred fifty five thousand two hundred and forty four dollars and twenty eight cents and this was all for PP we haven't had any expenditures yet for testing or for contact tracing is so the remainder in that fund is twenty four million five hundred forty four thousand seven hundred fifty five dollars and seventy two cents. The end of the final award was for support of the northwest Arkansas code response that targets communities that were disproportionately affected by the pandemic these being or Marshall islanders and Hispanics this award is for seven million and no funds have been expended from that award as of today. And I'm happy to take any questions related to any of those particular awards for in general Mister chairman yes Sir it if I might and I don't know where the senator bond is you're not talking. Okay though senator bond may have questions but I think and I appreciate the report and we wanted that information but I think one of the questions was. Going forward door do you have concerns about needing additional appropriation before we use up all of that federal cares ACT money so and thank you I meant to mention we do have twenty nine million that the cares committee has agree to hold for us in anticipation of the need to implement a vaccination plan so we do have that in reserve as a request and then we are going back before the cares committee in September to provide them a detailed report of our expenditures to date status of operations in any anticipated additional needs at this point we don't have an additional made we're working to expand the spines we are also continually evaluating the funding support that's available to us from from the federal funders and we do have an award of seventy eight million dollars that is a I think it's thirty thirty eight month award that that will will base some foundational funding to carry us through over the next two years as we respond. Senator bond do you want to have first question are you happy I don't have to have the first question but I do have a couple go ahead you're recognized. The part of the concern was that we can we get sent to monitor like. At the. In its own. Is it on this is a. It's all I think. But the Green Line. All right. That's. I can. Yes will your read senator Bonior read. A yes so we just a part of this was to get some answers from the department of health as mentioned that we have going to have enough money set aside to carry the pandemic three from a health perspective a couple of follow up questions we talked about strike teams for schools yes we have outbreaks yes and we've also talked about teachers being prioritize for testing and machines being placed around the state of the county health units do we have sufficient funding for that is that in the numbers and the money that we have left over yes Sir so we right now are working with a if MC under their contract to formulate the strike teams so we do have strike teams that'll be able and when we talk about the strike teams were talking about the teams that would go in and do the testing of the contacts at the school or at the campus and obviously these would be folks that we've asked to go home and not return to school but what we've talked about is doing this just like we do a community testing of an. Sorry a community testing event where we would have a team available maybe in the school parking lot gymnasium parking lot so it's a drop the for parents that need to have the kids tested quickly so we do have those teams available and we do have funding support for those for the testing for higher ed as I mentioned we haven't house and I was talking about K. through twelve yes well this is for both okay we would handle them both the same way because they're both priorities so we would have the strike teams available to serve both K. twelve and higher rated additionally the testing equipment. The testing equipment that we talked about using as the first first line option for immediate testing is antigen testing and those are the be the machines we have two hundred BT machines what we don't have is all of the supplies that go with those antigen machines we received about a third of our shipment and the other two thirds is being delayed until possibly sometime in September A because the federal government has directed those vendors to fill their orders first so we actually have shipping dates for next week but we've been told we're not going to receive the remainder of our supply until probably September now we do have enough of the antigen test kits to test twelve hundred students the issue with the test kit is that bear packaged in groups of thirty and there's a control that specific for that package of test so we can now we can only send out about forty packages to go with the test machines so we've deployed forty machines of those forty machines thank all but two will be placed in local health units the two that are not placed in local health units will be on the fight will campus non the Jones for a campus those institutions of higher ed that have large populations have student health centers and they'll eventually have an ad but ID now test machine and it will pull those and two machines back and re deploy them into other locations in the community but we do have those forty machines that'll be out in the communities geographically spaced when we determine the placement locations we were able to have a list from the vendors that have OB abit abi I the nail in the be the machines so we know we're communities already have access to a test may be at a hospital that could be exist if we needed it so we've tried to place the strategically we also have kids that we cap at the health department we will. Dr those test kits to the community if we made a point of care test there we will make that happen and we will do it even over the weekend if need be I mean we do that are routinely so you know it's not ideal we had hoped to have antigen test machines in every single local health units and additionally have those in the ten largest school wellness centers on the college campuses but it's what we have to work with at this point time so it's not a funding issue it's a supply chain issue but we've tried to make sure that we thought through it strategically so that we can have that rapid test available for the school so so this should help with the turnaround time the antigen machines I know many of you are aware those are best we in you are dealing with somebody who's symptomatic if someone symptoms or you know marginal you're gonna want also do a swap will send those swabs into the public health lab through our career system and those will be prioritized as well. The the one follow up is another maybe other questions have been raised one follow up is is our budget and I know we have not sent a bunch of the money which I think may be surprising to some of this but that is our budget aligned with the UAMS projections for cases and I think we've we've presented that question before we you're recognized as been projecting and I know we may not be aligned with the highest projection of the Lois but the average projection are we projecting the money we needed to meet the you AM mass. Projections of active cases over you know three the end of the year particularly and into next year. It is so I can I don't think I can give you a definitive answer to that I have not reviewed the latest update to the model that came out I believe last believe it came out on Tuesday the revision of the model so I haven't looked at those numbers I understand that they project I've bumped out the projected timeline into either the end of November or December I think the last time I looked we were still below training below the projections and honestly for me it's it's it's good if it it's flattening out in trending out because that means hopefully will be closer to the time that we have a vaccine we can utilize the the money that we have available and shift gears to a vaccine delivery program so I think where we stand right now we feel comfortable that what we have is is adequate and you know we're immediately ready as soon as we feel differently to raise that to the attention of the cares committee into this body I appreciate your trying to make really thoughtful decisions but it's dynamic and changing and I think what we have now is sufficient based on what we know. Thank you Mr. Thank you senator. one question I had The strike teams are you going to be deploying them to private schools and charter schools as they are needed there as well yes Sir we don't treat them any differently thank you. Representative Dotson. Thank you Mr chair My question has to go with and. These numbers are slightly off of maybe what you just gave us because I'm assuming that you have some stuff that Maybe you've written down that's committed but you haven't put and asus yet but this is numbers and asus this morning. Showing that as of this moment you we've approved a hundred nine million dollars for the department I have the carriage act funds and and twenty million of its been committed. Only four point two million has been expended and these are like set top level lines so they're still eighty four point seven million remaining in your budget and you testified just a moment ago that none of the seven million dollars that we approved last month we had to have an an emergency meeting because it was it was a it was critical in is important But we haven't spent any of those funds in the last nearly four weeks. So why did we have to have an emergency meeting. If nothing was going to be done with it until we can of approved at this meeting today. So representantes and you're correct we haven't expended any of those funds to pay for expenditures a but but activity has happened and Joe Thompson is our CFO and she can talk about the work to develop the memorandums of agreement four for that project but we have had activity they actually they've already hard seventeen contact tracers and are beginning work on that project and there's a process that we go through to develop the memorandum of agreement but we actually issued them letters of authorization to begin their work before those were finalized in Jedi want to come in yes Sir with yes you're you're correct we have not expended any funding however before we wanted to move for we first need it the appropriation authority to spend from there we've been working very diligently to make sure that we could track and monitor any activity so it's been a lot of communication is a secretary I me as a chief of staff Williams explained to make sure that we have process is in place to track and monitor the funds so all activity we've extended temporary approvals for them to begin providing services the final in all ways are expected to be signed to day for the seven million dollars in so we hope to get billing in by next week but we just did not want to prematurely start spending and so we had the the best and the most the efficient tracking process is in place will our understanding of it was that. The funds were in hand the plan was in place the partners are ready to go and apparently that wasn't the case you had to do all of that after the approval. Yes Sir will at the the proposals were in place the plants were started but the in all ways were not in place as far as memorandum of agreement between you and miss the northwest Arkansas council and of the department of health so after we got the approval for the appropriation then we all worked internally among with our experts in each area to make sure that there were other systems in addition to the proposals that were in a put in place so at the time that we request the appropriation we did not have the M. always in place that took a couple weeks after approval yes yes thank you you. Thank you Representative Dotson. Mr really do have some that to that question. One thing is mostly just a procedural work on the record about. Can you get to a microphone please Sir. So a. With one of the requirements that we have in this is the DFA thing to entirely to prevent deficit spending and to prevent spending of any funds in excess of allowable appropriation is we don't even allow agencies to enter into any kind of a commitment or any kind of a contractor and away until that appropriation is in place so the reason we had to come back before you is so that we can really begin those wheels rolling you can understand that there might also be some hesitance on the part of the folks who are actually doing is working my received the money to go for with investing in and making plans for if they felt that there was some question about the appropriation. Thank you Mr. You can head to request but if you have something to add to that. All right senator Hendren you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chairman I just want to respond since I was one the one to ask for the emergency meeting because of I I did believe in the arts and I still do I wanna make a couple points because I. it is not in my district but it's near my district and some of the folks in my district are involved in this but So I've been following with the folks that are involved in this and same are we doing this as fast as we can because as we said at the last meeting this is largely a matter of life and death for some of these families. And so I ask for an update from the folks on the ground doing and here's what I've been told is they've already hired twenty two new staff at you a miss northwest three bilingual tracers they've got about another twenty eight that are gonna be starting within the next week or two they've done thirty seven hundred tests that would not have been done had we not done that emergency meeting and so that's going to have a real difference do I wish it were faster in that the lawyers could get there in the ways and stuff done faster absolutely but I think on the other side of that is it's important to be done right so that there is oversight from D. F. and A it for us so I think they struck a good balance and the fact is had we not had that meeting would be doing it today and the in the way process would be starting today in those thirty seven or test would be done in those twenty two people wouldn't be hired so I just want to thank the members of a LC for coming together and help in that to get done. Senator Chesterfield. You have a question on this thank you Mr chair and I thank you for the work what my concern is still the dearth of knowledge about the availability of these funds around the state. had a meeting with the governor about thirty other mayors of black mayors really who had no idea of the availability of it so what are we doing to get the word out so that the knowledge of all of this is available to all of those individuals who have Have the. The future of the people in there did in their states in your in their cities excuse me in your hands. Thank you senator so director Sharon to let up with the minority health commission has been participating in the cares steering committee meetings she's also been working with the local service agencies that that may be assisting these families that are dealing with code bit or institutions and agencies that need access to testing to try to make sure that word is spreading out in the community doctor Michelle Smith who is our director of health equity has also been doing local out reach with communities to help spread the word about the availability and then also miss Kimberly Hayman who is new to the department she's our faith based outreach coordinator she is also make an out reach contacts two different groups to try to make sure that people know that this might be a resource if their particular needs well I appreciate that but somehow the words delays in getting out. So as the person I know we have all of these. Entities within and I've worked with doctor Smith in getting testing into my district. But there areas where they don't have pushy women like me. A were insistent. And I don't mind me callin push one of who are insistent on these choice on these tests being done in their areas. A so was which out call me in the comments that is not the word nasty one anyway. But I'm saying we've got to do more yes and I would appreciate it at the governor was very receptive to the to the issue. But there's something that is amiss and I know doctor mean miss love is working and doctor Smith is working. But they can't be every place all the time and it's one of the reasons that I pushed for radio spots. That would be helpful but many of these people are the only public employee that they have in their city and so we've got to find a way to do more and perhaps you guys can get together put your heads together and find a way to make that information more available the governor was very generous in sharing that information on Friday but it should not have waited till Friday thank you very much. Thank you senator senator Irvin you're recognized. Thank you for that you know yesterday we had an excellent meeting it was a long meeting but there's a lot of information and that meeting so I would invite members to look back and watch that meeting if you are not able to attend yesterday there was a ton of information it's long but it's very good information on back to school protocol some plans but along the lines of senator Chesterfield there are additional pots of money out there outside of what the department of health is doing that we're direct spends from the cares act in one of those programs is called the emergency solutions grant which goes through DHS and I believe there's about thirteen point seven million dollars in that fund and they are now accepting applications because we we opened it back up for a second round and they're accepting applications from eligible organizations for the emergency solutions grant I'm reading this from mark whites from DHS the program supports our Kansans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless during the covert nineteen public health emergency eligible organizations may apply FOR iest E. S. G. fines to reimburse the cost of providing services in up to four different program areas emergency shelter rapid re housing street outreach and homelessness prevention local governments and non profit organizations including charges are eligible to apply it is an electronic application and they will be accepted until four thirty PM on August twenty fourth so a little bit of a public service announcement. Monday so for thirty but electronic applications so I can for this email and yes and I would just invites legislators to go back to your districts and talked to some folks if you if you have eligible organizations churches nonprofits or local government that may want to apply thank you Mr chair. Thank you senator. A committee when I recognize you as long as your questions on this subject because I do have some folks in the queue for another subject represent a lover you on this subject. You're recognized for a question thank you Mr chair so. I miss miss Williams you mention the minority health commission you mission on this but I'm. Are there any because senator chest feels talking about doing testing and different things like that so do they have the funding to do the testing or are you are providing the funding I want to kind of I want to check kind of clear find the so that. If if you if you're going to be charging the minority health commission or the or the office of equity with doing these tasks do they have access to the funding to do to do these activities Senate thank you Representative love the funding that would come for that the community testing events that comes from our department of health operational budget we don't expect the minority health commission to to provide the funding for that is in our office of health equity services mainly a facilitator an organizer of those events but it is from our agency funding an appropriation okay so so when there's a request then how the requests handle as far as testing. So the so the request for community testing it can happen a couple of different ways the ones that are prioritized or the ones where we know we're seeing increasing cases and so we have a couple in the next week that actually got rescheduled and bumped up in the queue because we are seeing an increased activity in those areas other community testing events that are just for for general sort of screening and surveillance purposes those are typically scheduled out you know sometimes a week or more we have not been doing as many this past month as we had been due in up until that time because honestly we had to re direct staff efforts to do in some contact tracing an investigation work until we got the contractors in place but now that we are entering into sort of the back to school period we'll be doing more outreach events and I don't have I'm sorry I didn't think to bring the schedule and now we have several that have happened in the past week and several more lined up for next week but I'm sorry I can't tell you off the top of my head no we had one in Poinsett county this past week and I believe we have one in stone county on Monday and then another but I can see in that list okay all right in and then also hello of I didn't want to also piggy back off of of senator Irvin. If we're going to talk about he is Jean then. How to get back in the queue but if if we're not going to talk about the issue again then I I I want to just go ahead and state now with okay so with the is the funding that that that's the it's a it's a perfect tool however the only thing that is the issue is that this is a reimbursement program in some of these small cities and towns do not have the funds to to to put into these programs to get reimbursed so as a council we need to actually tap on that issue because the small cities and towns and not gonna be able to help the homeless to not gonna be able to help the people that are that are actually being impacted by because it because they don't have the the funding. To the up front funding to put into these programs so what he is G. is a good program it is something that has to be front loaded with funds in order to be reimbursed so if if the council is is going to really counting on the program like E. S. G. which is a good program we need to actually sit Senate staff and some some Kiir's funding for these communities so that they will be able to execute these programs and that's what I would I would say in regards to E. if she. Thank you. Thank you senator Elliott you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chair and I and I can I think I just need to ask this question it's a process question and I'd so much of what represented love just said so I just want to ask I think maybe Mr bleed might be the person that can help me out with this I'm not sure but somebody cannot hope. All Mr played I know that last we met and we had the emergency meeting when we got the funding for the Marshallese population which was which was great and the the. Of a black hall of Famers here for what were they didn't A know that not coming the cost of whatever all that happened but one of the issues of course was I I thought everybody was going to be going to the minority health. Commission but the Marshallese grant did not go that way it went directly to and at the entity I guess was at UAMS whoever was in northwest Arkansas. Am I correct I don't want to say it wrong stuff is that correct not not all of that okay a portion of the funding the per portion of the funding for contact tracing is to you a mess but the other portion of the funding that for support services is the the northwest Arkansas council and it's being is being coordinated through the minority health commission that's that's where my point is say I forgot about the council but the bottom line is the funding went to a couple of entities who have the ability to fronts pay for something and then I guess you know be reimbursed and And what I'm trying to figure out is there any way say we just talked about these these areas as soon as Chesterfield talked about. Can it is there a way that save we're talking about Hughes Arkansas is there some entity that in that area that could be the receiver of a grant there that has the ability to do what the northwest Arkansas council can do and what you AM as can do is is doing for the Marshallese grant. Is there something in the process or some entity in an area that can help folks we can have the money all we want to but if you don't you can't spend money you don't have a way to break the reimburse it is it be like asking me to buy a Lamborghini today in your pay me later so so it does if I'm hearing you correctly this is a. That's cool yes a process question about it so we can simply send him up money what we do is of course we reimburse for expenditures which are anchored and the issue that you're raising is if the community simply doesn't have the revenue to funding locally yes to encourage those expenditures how do we address that need yes I think that's a very good question I don't necessarily have an answer on the DFA side because of you know how we set up the process I think we all rely on in the the federal cares act moneys really based on the idea that there state has expenses that they've been heard and this is reimbursement for it now if there's resources locally the could be identified and they could be reimbursed so that we can have the paperwork necessary to show that that wasn't allowable costs which was incurred then I think that's something we can look at I guess what I'm trying to get to is I I totally understand all that I know we put process this process in place the other thing I think that is being we've talked about the in equities period but this also shows how when we set up a system the system is set up according to. A certain people's ideas of this is the way things must work and I get we have a must work system in place all I'm Askin and I'll just ask on the on behalf of the you know the department of health as well say I'm in Hughes Arkansas is there it could it could is there some entity there have we looked at that is to help people because there are people out there who want to get funding. And. Which is that is is there of maybe it could it could it got did do we have a a council or is there a maybe an extension of UAMS or is there an extension of apartment of health is there's somebody there who can help folks get the money to the community is all I'm Askin I guess if I went to set looked at every little town maybe I could connect something to something but I'm just asking you if you know if that's possible and if we don't we don't but I think this week I don't know how we keep talking about the pandemic B. and and unprecedented times and keep act as if we are in. President eight toppings because that's what we're doing. And I and and please don't act as if I'm asking us not to follow protocol. Protocols is something we need to think about out ways around some protocols that we have put in place when things are normal it's not normal so to have people out there who can't even apply for grant because I don't have any money to pay for in the first place we need to start act an abnormally in ways and still be accountable that just must be possible. Do you not agree that we can look for something maybe we can get a yes or no can we sit down and look for a way to get around this so I I think I agree with the point you're raising and you know I don't I don't think I have a solution but through our local health units in our hometown health coalitions we try to to be aware of the service agencies and you know we we can ask some more probing questions try to solicit some more feedback on pockets of need where maybe they haven't been addressed I do know from our regional directors and our administrators that in some counties they have formed co that specific local task force to you know develop plans and talk about these you know issues I know in public they have a very active group that's been meeting for months in raising issues and needs I think actually I think St Francis county I think uses insane prince out think by act actually have one two but I'm not sure that every county you know has such a group so I can certainly probe into that be happy to start asking in a more pointed away because as as of today you know I haven't asked that specifically of our staff but I can. Okay it occurs to me that may be a good question for the municipal league as well on I will try to track that down okay thank you so much on a senator. Representative wooden your question on this subject yes it is Mr chairman thank you you're recognized I want to pursue what US senator Allen only its point. The we we were we were rushed into that seven billion dollar appropriation for up there. And there's other parts of the state that are not capable or don't have the of financial well being is is well placed in northwest Arkansas. So how is she yes the question of what are we doing to plan ahead of this is going to be a do what what we're looking at right now is now the information that I'm receiving in the research I've done tells me this is gonna be of long duration is not going to be over with next year we keep talking about the vaccine that's well and good but most of the whole total problem. Yes we can come here and approved seven million dollars what what what is the composition the question is what is the composition of the north west health council who's that made up the. Some represent would not all have an exhaustive list of the memberships of the council membership of the council but my understanding is that I've been in existence since the eighties and it's a combination group it's it's business is so we approved we your right your recommendation was seven million and we don't know what the composition is of the council up there who they are where they get their funding yes Sir we do know who the council is I just don't have a listing of all the members of the council we do know that the health care task force that presented the proposal that was funded is made up of primarily hospital groups it's the the mercy hospital in northwest Arkansas Washington regional Arkansas children's northwest UAMS northwest the veterans hospital I. Think the hospital in Harrison my eight but I'm not exactly sure but their eight hospitals that or a member of the council's healthcare task force that developed and presented that proposal okay then pursuing Senator Ellie is of. Action have you talk with any of the other hospitals in Blytheville In other Crittenden county another player Helena about forming a consortium like this one in order to get that money funded into those areas we haven't specifically talked with them about. About proposals such as this we do meet retain late with the hospital association and we do speak routinely to the hospital CEOs they those regular calls we actually had a call with them yesterday so we are seeking input from them we currently funded the the regional health care coalition groups which are based there seven hospital coalitions and we fund those coalitions in then they in turn provide funding support to the hospitals this proposal from northwest was was outside that normal mechanism but we do have funding support that we have been providing specifically to those healthcare coalitions for the hospitals that come about so the proposal by the northwest Arkansas council was not it was it was presented to the department with the request that a priest be presented to the cares committee there are quite a few proposals that were presented to the cares committee that were unsolicited proposals those were proposals that were developed and then given to the department with the asked that they be presented to cares for consideration so odd I don't disagree with you I think there other areas of need that may want to present similar proposals and and hopefully now that they're aware that this is an option they'll take advantage of that as well I haven't specifically worked with the hospitals or suggested that they do so I've been to this point honestly we've been focused on you know trying to develop testing in some of these other things so these additional wraparound services I agree you're very much needed but we are just getting to the point of focus and effort there voting if you would like to have a meeting with miss Williams after this this is kinda off subject from where we're at on report and all. I want to move on we got a bit of a fine thank you Mr chairman thank you thank you. Senator dismaying you're recognized for a question I think it's on a different subject rights right yet thank you Mr chairman and this is really on the classification transfer request was by the A. O. C. was twenty thousand dollars for professional fees conference and travel and this may be discussed in the committee I don't know I'm just a little bit curious in environment where we ran why there would be a transfer to travel and conference expenses out of professional fees. The any any on may have covered it I had to step out. I'm sorry yeah it's so it is see for. On the second page mid midway. Exit all make make a whole lot of sense is yours. Okay the of the explanation the the day ahead senator DISMANG Mister chairman if yes Sir of. Is a transfer will allow staff to attend the children's bureau national meetings as part of their grant. So the money they received in and this is just in the preparation transferred to allow the the additional illustration yes okay thank you. Thank you senator. Senator MALOCH we have a motion for that part of the report. Well at. Actually. I think let me continue because there's a certain order that we need to do some of these before I moved for adoption report. I have a separate motion concerning ida B. three B. this is the appropriation for the division of workforce services for emergency unemployment benefits we have an eight hundred million dollar the availability from the the federal funds and I've asked Mr believed to address is just a moment with the subcommittee approved the appropriation transfer and the ability of the LC co chairs in the peer cultures to take emergency action if requested on a canister perforation request that would allow an increase in benefits for those Arkansans who receive less than the federal minimum to be eligible for emergency unemployment benefits now the. The additional federal funds would be for like a three hundred dollar a week weekly benefit others discussion about whether the states would have to match that with a hundred it's our understanding that we can use the additional regular unemployment payments for that hundred but we have some people that draw less than a hundred and so there was an issue there but I could let Mr bleed to address that issue. Yes so the the executive order they created this additional payment limited benefits to those who make at least one hundred dollars in their unemployment benefits and we have some folks who make the minimum which is eighty one dollars so absent some kind of action by the state these folks would not be able to participate in the program so we've been looking at and and all the states have been looking at how that can be addressed at pier when we discussed on Tuesday there was some thought to using coronavirus money to bridge that gap which would have been about three or four million dollars we learned that day however that the most recent guidance we've gotten from Washington was that would not be an allowable expense but that there may be an option through executive order of our governor to increase the amount coming out of the unemployment insurance trust fund to bring those folks up to one hundred of as we discussed on Tuesday this is a situation where the guidance from the federal government is evolving but we did want to bring the eight hundred million dollar appropriation request to the LC in the event that the federal of guidance does kind of solidified it to actionable items that we can move forward with it it would only be based on that three hundred dollar additional payment on the federal side the state our understanding of it and our request was contingent on the state not needing to provide any additional funding. As we discussed on Tuesday if something changes where we do have to that that rule changes in that the state does indeed have to pay that additional one hundred dollars then that would be something we would revisit with a LC before proceeding what I have a motion Mister chairman on the full report it will include the it will be for the eight hundred million dollars to approve that at the three hundred dollars weekly amount now because of the situation with those who make less than a hundred dollars and that we may be able to address or fix that in some manner I'm going to there could be a chance that they'll see would be to meet or emergency basis in the interim if that comes up so before I moved to adopt the report I'm going to move to suspend the six billion notice rule for a meeting of the Legislative Council to consider any revisions to a request from the division of work for services related to emergency unemployment benefits thank you and senator I will note that in the subcommittee the motion was made and senator Hickey made a statement that we would only include that item on any emergency called meeting so in less there's another motion made another item today this will be the only item taken up in that such meetings where we would work if it if it meets with waiving the six by requirement yes. Yes so it's a proper motion to I have a second. Second all those in favor say aye. All opposed house have it center Malek you're recognized if in that now Mr chairman with the with the cabbie out that we will still addressed a hundred fifty million dollars to cities and counties after I make this motion but with the exception of the of dealing with that issue I move adoption of the report that's proper motion I have a second you have a question Senator runner just second second prisoner in all those in favor say aye. All opposed Senate cinematic you're recognized for the following motion thank you Mr chairman we've had some discussion and this has to do with the hundred fifty million dollars that was set aside by the cares act the committee for cities and counties that was brought before peer on Tuesday but there were a lot of questions and and actually even some of the members of the stairs the the care steering committee the thought that it it had been set aside but that official action had not been taken as far as the the the parameters for how that was going to be disbursed and I think they expect that to come back before them so the the your committee just referred this act this item to the Legislative Council but it's it's my understanding they're still working on some of that it could require them to come back or the need to come back before September fifteenth which is the next meeting appear and then the following Friday so instead of taking any specific action on the hundred fifty million dollars today I would move that we suspend the six day notice reform meeting of the Legislative Council to consider any revision to request from the department finance administration relating to distributing called coronavirus relief funds to cities and counties. As a proper motion by do have some members I thing to have discussion on that mode Mr believe may want to elaborate for others will see. Yes animal hold that motion to come back to the proper time so we can ask Mr Billy questions senator garner is your questions related to the sitting counties. Okay some hold hold you for second. Absent of love is your. Absent a lot of you're recognized for a question thank you Mr chair I just like to and senator MALOCH three you the what what exactly was the or these funny funds to be used for distributed to cities and counties. Well it it's my understanding and we had some Uncertainty of at the meeting. It it's my understanding that the proposal will be to divide the hundred fifty million dollars seventy five million to the counties seventy five million to the cities that there will be some limit whether solar specific per capita basis or not I'm not sure but there would be some limit on the amount each city or county could apply for but that it will all be reimbursable expenses related to the coronavirus expense so you know every city or county might not get up to that maximum level and with that we would expect that the entire hundred fifty million dollars actually would not be expanded and at some point that would be swept back into the potter to take care of unemployment expense or whatever but it it's it it's divided up on some per capita basis as a maximum but it has to be a reimbursable expense that the city or county would apply for and that is something that's going to come back before the cares acts during committee and then the then would be reported back to us for for final action is that question of Mister bleep yes Sir so would we brought this to peer the the steering committee had heard the request but we were little we got a little ahead of ourselves by bringing the request appear because it was pointed out that we still of the steering committee a full report that kind of fleshed out some more the details like you just discussed recognizing that would like to pull down this request so that we can go ahead and make sure that the steering committee gives us there for one final approval on it at that point we would like the opportunity to bring the issue back to LC up in advance of the September meeting deleted the issue of one of the issues we're dealing with is this the funding a question is to help the cities and counties with any reimbursable cost they may have incurred in responding to the corona virus and that funding was put there in recognition that those costs are out there but the federal guidance on what is and is not allowable to be reimbursed is not easy. He to wrap your hands around so one of things what we're doing right now is working with the cities and counties to bring them up to speed and educate them on how they can apply for reimbursement we've got a contractor seatac it's working with us and working with the cities and counties to vet request or not to approve you know yes that is an allowable expense no that is not an allowable expense all that process is probably going to take some time if something were we're working on now in fact my boss secretary lower Walter actually presented to the the municipally yesterday on the subject but it's our expectation that the sooner we can get this all lined out and ready to go the more time to cities and counties will have to figure out how the guidance work to gets their paperwork in order and get it in so that we can reimburse those expenses. Okay so soon are you saying in. I mean would there be a checklist of things on me because it with the one thing you don't want is for cities or our county to going expend funds and then you say I'll know you're not going to be reimbursed so. I mean I guess we we are gonna be putting out some guidance and we we have been working with the cities and the counties through the association of counties municipal league so that you know because our expectation is they've already incurred some of these expenses they just may not be aware that for example the overtime that their fire department took in responding to a public health crisis that over time paycheck may in fact be reimbursable they may not have put in the paperwork for the hand sanitizer or or the additional PP they may not be aware that in a piece of item a piece of equipment qualifies as PP so there's a bit of a learning curve that we're trying to figure out just to help the cities in the counties get to where they need to be to pull some of these funds down. Made but it is also done on a reimbursable basis correct yes Sir okay Mister believe not. I think we need to find some way in which we can up front some of this this funding we we have to because I'm telling you some of these smaller cities and counties can not can not do what we're asking them to do I and I know what you're saying you're saying and that we're gonna be reimburse in on some of the cost. But I'm telling you I work for Pulaski County and people are calling me day and night because they are hurting in the Arkansas doesn't have an adequate response with these funds then people are going to continue to hurt and we're going to stay in this cycle and I'm not coming down on you I'm just saying I'm just telling you what I hear and when I see every day at Pulaski County we're we're fielding hundreds of phone calls about people not being able to pay their rent not being able to pay the utilities not being able to pay I'm a necessary expenditures and so. Until we have an adequate adequate response well we're going to do is we're going to prolong the agony of our cans is and so I'm that that's what I want to really get to the crux of so that we can really provide adequate response for our our our community service thank you. Thank you Representative senator Irvin you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chair at just just a follow up I was just going to ask I think we're I have volunteered to actually be on the working great because I think it was Representative gray and I that made that motion to set this money aside back in and June tenth. Was when the cares steering task force made this proposal and of voted to do this to set this money aside so is is there are a working group that I've missed the meetings of or has that happened and I also know. The second question was I know that we did hire the company to help us with all of these expenditures and so with my understanding that they were also going to assist us on how exactly we could disbursed that money to the cities and counties that was my understanding the so so in response to your first question no there's not a working group meeting that you've mess and my expectation is you in and represent gray will play central role in that okay that would be something you need to work with the secretary Smith and the steering group on. Response to the role that the contractor we plan yes there right now we're ready pretty deep into a process where they're betting requests you know if it's a city for example has approached us and and and said Hey is this reimbursable we're at a point where we can rely on the contractor they have folks with a lot of experience in Washington a lot of experience interpreting how this guidance might be applied who can give us more comfort on yet that is reimburse yes I just wanted to bring that into the conversation because to me that's something we should probably done day one two and list that assistance but thank you if you can provide a little more detail that would be helpful. Ellen make that I am chief of staff for the part of finance administration and Senator Irvin you're you're absolutely correct there were present Jean and there were a couple of others who were very interested in working together with this with how we approach to how we accommodate the cities and counties we've been working very closely with the Arkansas municipal league and the Arkansas association of counties as they as they discussed with their members there they're entities the as to how and formulating their methodology and we've we've gotten some feedback from them and that is as you know as you mentioned that we brought on sea tac as a contractor to help sort through that as well so we have we're getting much much closer to understanding better what the the eligible areas our forces in counties and we're educating them as Jack mentioned earlier so we anticipate within the next week or so that would be able to sit down and have that conversation with the members of the committee okay who are interested in working in that working group and and understanding house the tech and how the process is working in coordination with amazing counties thank you and final I it was important to us because there's precedence in the way that the cares money was distributed initially it was to states but it was also the cities of at a certain population size so there's precedence that this money is supposed to trickle down to our local governments and so I think it's a at a very good thing and and hopefully we can make it all work for everybody but we also have to consider the FEMA reimbursements in the other federal pots of money that they can tap into so that's what makes it so incredibly complicated. And and the cares many can be used as that being a match which right which is a of all in the yeah guidance it's been provide thank you thank you. Thank you senator center just field you have questions subject up yes I I guess I just feel like I'm on a roller coaster here cares money can be used to get the thing be the thing the match. But you have to expand money. And before you can get the care some money. So I'm feeling like of. We just on a roller coaster here just going around around around around around and we never get to poor people. There are cities in this in this state of being on the audit committee many of you where we have a lot of small cities that don't have the first money to expand on anything. Including hand sanitizers for which they can be reimbursed and if they don't have any money they can't be reimbursed and it becomes a never ending cycle of poverty in ability to meet the needs of the citizens that they serve. What are we don't. Because I rules specifically exclude them if you don't have the money you can't get money. So is them that have led those they get. And that's my concern with this whole process is if we're not even listening to the fact that there are poor cities with poor people are being disproportionately impacted by the virus and the cares ACT money are supposed to be there to help them what are we doing if we keep doing it the same way we're going to continue to get the same result. It is so. I understand exactly I think what you're saying and and and I think as Stephanie Williams mentioned earlier I don't think there's anyone here would disagree with the point you're making to some extent our hands are tied by the the rules of the federal government requires of us females also reimbursement basis on the issue with FEMA as it takes a long time to reimburse you for that funding if were you going to use cares ACT money to reimburse of or two as the state share for the female side what would happen is you doubt that the local funds to pull down those money and then you get reimbursed for that that's my point. Separate apart though from a lot of what we're talking about with the cares ACT there's also the other side of the carriers act which provided direct funding to entities all across the state so there's there's other pieces of funding that are out there might be available separate apart from what's going through that you get those to me so we get stamps guessing this so I can get some help to small communities yes ma'am acts of money for which they don't have to have money that they don't have then just get that too so what I'm gonna do is I'm to send you the spreadsheet it's a probably way more big and complicated detail but if there's something in there that we want to drill down the music I notes version I'll do my best thank you. The sender Representative Sullivan you're recognized thank you chair back here yeah there's a lot of. Understandable problems and hurdles were jumping through but we're doing it sounds like a pretty good job of managing as best we can in a very difficult time you know. Would you consider that the way we're going about this in the our progress on it as a disaster or are we making solid continual progress. I certainly wouldn't call our response to the disaster no Sir okay thank you thank you Mr. Absent of all you're recognized for a question. Hi Mr chairman my question got answered I forgot to turn off the month. Senator garner I still have you in the queue of. Do you have you have a question on on the pier reported all ours it on related. Go ahead yes Sir slated appears is proper time to talk to discuss it yes Sir I have no more questions at this time and then we'll go back to the sender Maddox motion thank you going back to the initial a hundred million we appropriated in response to president trump executive order on employment a secondary part of that executive order allow the stage to reimburse these people up to an additional hundred dollars for the unemployment I know that the administration has denied this request stating that we do not have the money to do so even though the federal cares ACT money that we were given could be used for this purpose and could be going to thousands of our Kansas right now run deployed was the excuse the reasoning for the administration not to get a hundred dollars extra to the people who desperately need it. All right. I have not had a chance to talk to the governor's office on exactly what that thinking might be but I'll tell you we haven't been able to get a firm handle on exactly how much that would cost us initially it looked like it was two hundred and sixty five million but when we look at projections there looking out there and include a potential increasing growth I think Mister Wilson talked about a potential double dip recession we might be looking at in excess of four hundred million in costs that would more than exhaust the reserves we put aside in the front of ours relief money and at that point I'm not sure what other revenue sources the state might have to expand to fulfill that hundred dollar obligation so we can do it appropriation for the federal money up to a certain amount which we just did while ago when it comes to the state's burden is an unpredictable amount we can't actually put our finger on marina correctly yes well the eight hundred million dollar is a projection similar to the one the state would have that apparently we in the future cannot predict correct the only issue is that we know where that eight the the three hundred dollar piece will come from we can anticipate and we know how that funding will occur the one hundred dollar piece on the state side we don't know and because we can't in in the state of Arkansas anchor debt we don't know necessarily how that's going to get paid thank. By senator Irvin you have a question the yes at the inn at in this. It's unreal it's and related to that but I just wanted to ask actually question to the chair. And it is related to the Arkansas rule connect emergency corona virus program that we we put the appropriation in rules subcommittee of Mr ports with the department of commerce said that they would need to bring a supplemental rule. To allow for the electric cooperatives to also be participants in this program and that they said that they were going to do that next week does not require ale seeds in meets or can you all take that up in the exact as an emergency rule if they send it to us when emergency request the chairs of subcommittee of rules will sign it along with the chairs of counsel. I would be executive subcommittee I'm sorry it was so just executive subcommittee and it only last a hundred twenty days right and I think their intention was to follow it up with a permanent rule understanding is that that could wait instills to our September meeting okay thank you for the clarification thank. Sir Malcolm not recognize you for that motion. All right I'll restate I just of the actual item has been pulled down as far as a hundred fifty million so we can go back to the cares ACT steering committee first so I simply moved to suspend the six they notice rule for meeting of Legislative Council to consider any revision to request or to actually consider the request From the F. and A relating to distributing the cost really funds to cities and counties that's proper motion to have second I have a second all those in favor say aye. All opposed house have it of motion passes Sir Malcolm conclude your report. Thank you. An awesome job you did there. So we'll go to the review subcommittee of represented Davis. Senate represented Davis you're recognized thank you Mr chairman the review subcommittee met on Tuesday reviewed in alternative delivery contract MOS grants and service contracts no items were held a moved the option of the report. House proper motion need discussion on the motion seeing none do I have a second. I have a second all those in favor say aye all opposed us have it. With that we'll move on to Senator Wallace for the Personnel report. He's he's he's. Thank you senator. Good morning Mr chairman the personnel subcommittee of ale see men on Tuesday August eighteenth. Committee received discuss various reports required no actions listed as Adam one through four of the report shows the committee also reviewed new request as well as request for continuations of differentials made by the institutions of higher education these are listed reports as items five through nine I will be happy to take any questions Sir. Senate questions you have a motion for moving for adoption. I make a motion all right I have a motion the discussion on the motion seeing none here second I have a second all those in favor for adoption reports say aye all opposed guys have it thank you senator. We'll move along to the highway subcommittee senator DISMANG. And he's out the room will come back to him we'll go to the occupational license remark senator Irvin. You're recognized and thank you Mr chair the occupational licensing review subcommittee met Thursday August twentieth in committee room Hey we heard the testimony from the following regarding the following items we have reports from occupational authorization entities the engineering section for the Arkansas department of health Arkansas state board of physical therapy and feed and fertilizer division of the Arkansas state plant board we will be discussing and voting on recommendations. At the next subcommittee. And and that is the conclusion of my reports I'll make a motion to adopt the report as proper motion to hear second. I have a second all those in favor say aye aye all opposed us have it thank you senator senator DISMANG you're recognized to do the highway subcommittee thank you Mr chairman the how we commission review in about three subcommittee met on August fifth and August nineteenth on on the fifth the subcommittee moved include organizational structure people capabilities in the draft report her recommendation sample for the portfolio planning from male sees consulting got house and in her responses to the recommendations from the department transportation. On August nineteenth the subcommittee heard a presentation from the alarm oversight authority of the department moved to include portfolio planning in the draft report heard recommendations and spend insurers from got house heard responses to recommendations from the department received a quarterly construction progress report from the department and with that that's it and I moved for adoption happy take any questions. As proper motion a discussion on the motion. Got a second from represented McNair all those in favor say aye. All opposed ayes have it with that members you'll notice page two and three are your agency reports I'll give you a second and if there's any questions for those we have no action items on those agency reports. Seeing no questions We're going to of jump off the agenda for second senator Chesterfield MO recognize you for your point of personal privilege thank you so much Mr chair of William should be in the back yes exactly he's back there. A ladies and gentleman I I thank you for your indulgence state government does not have many people who work for for a long period of time and I wanted to be able to present this to you And to him. They're getting okay. Yes he's here all right. Whereas Mister William Carroll parks as an important and valued member of the Arkansas Senate staff has served in the role of Senate properties officer and will be retiring on Monday August thirty first twenty twenty after thirty five years of commitment to the senators the staff and the upkeep beautification and preservation of the Senate chambers and Senate property in the state capitol building and we're S. C. as reliably executed the many important responsibilities of the properties officer including maintaining the order cleanliness and upkeep of the Senate property. Conducting annual inventories of equipment and furnishings directing supply distribution overseeing session custodial staff and performing various core your services and we're as William began his employment on August first nineteen eighty five since that time years work through eighteen general assembly's and fifty one legislative sessions demonstrating a rare loyalty to the body and its members and contributing greatly to the daily operation of the Senate is Chris professional style cure for whistling in the halls and many stories will be missed and whereas the members of the Arkansas Senate and the Senate staff wish to join Senator Linda Chesterfield in congratulating Mister William C. parks on his retirement in expressing their heartfelt gratitude to him or is thirty five years of outstanding service to the Senate and in wishing him the best in the years ahead now therefore pursuant to the motion of yours truly the Arkansas Senate directs the citation be present at and we'll presented again on the thirty first but it is signed by the president pro tempore Senate to Hendren by secretary of the Senate Inc one will and yours truly let's standing give him in a brown. Thank you Mr chair we would you like to say anything. Yes how you thank you thank the member with the the council. And a menu that worker. A state Senate it's been great. For a lot of great people. Thank. Thank thank you mystery of and you will be greatly missed. Thank you Mr chair thank you so much thank you senator. So members we're now moving into the I. S. P.'s there's been quite a few of these that have road the last few months on the gender for members not being present today is our last day to referred these as counsel so with that I will call represented Sorvillo he is got the first two. The first one Representative hello is to be referred to house Education Committee you're recognized to introduce your I SP. Thank you Mr chair. Hello members. H. P. can nineteen titled an ACT to require video cameras in certain classrooms upon request. The certain classrooms are self contained classrooms where I'm most vulnerable nonverbal children are located in a public school self contained classrooms mean a classroom at a public school that comprise of students with disabilities as defined in the individuals with disabilities Education Act. These children spend less than forty percent of the day in a regular classroom. Without limitation a room that is attached to a self contained classroom use for time out in other purposes understandably these children can be physically restrained that is why the camera is needed a camera is a non biased it just reports the fax in two thousand seventeen now this compact contacted by constituents in my district concerning a nonverbal child being abused. In a classroom I ask ironic to research the issue to see if any states have passed legislation that provides cameras in contain classrooms during that time that be all I was doing it research I received a call from Mike one of my colleagues he asked if I would be willing to meet with Mister Herrington the father of not being special needs child I ask that that bill of that of his son being drug across the room being hit. Tied down to share could be shown that matter request was denied here are some of the highlights of that H. B. nineteen. It it provides the word magie and does not. By the word shall. Of the I. E. P. program. Will determine whether a goodwill remains a part of an I. E. P. record in other words if there is no incident. Well recording will not be kept. Cameras motion detected cameras in this types that type of camera will automatically turn on or off the record in which B. position to remove an exposure to a restaurant. Private funding our schools net legal balance for two thousand eighteen was six hundred fifty eight million five hundred and fifty one thousand dollars this does not include the millions and building fines as you know recent and Representative I think we got already have some questions okay I've got a people in the queue. Senator Elliott. The last. Hello Mister I don't so much have a question is I have a motion in alternate motion well okay well as we generally just hear these and and send them to the appropriate committee I move that we accept the recommendation to speak to send each of these I it I as peace to the proper committee without further discussion sent. Senator there's one. Adam have take mask of certain talk okay it's there's one item that requires a special vote so JD one okay hold from your motion but all the rest will be included in your batch motion okay I've I I will accept that that change all right and and if you hold on I'll let you make the motion for judgment which had to have it separate okay all right got a motion and a second to batch these and send the appropriate committees all those in favor say aye aye aye all opposed us have it congratulations your ISP is sent to the committee committee on J. one which is a by senator Kim hammer it requires a two thirds vote because it is sending this study to a subcommittee of counsel so Senator Elliot I recognize you for that same motion II I move that we send it to counsel for special study. Proper motion of second I have a second all those in favor say aye aye all opposed eyes have it and it refer it meets met the threshold so with that we'll move on to K. one will VS to stand. Maybe. Do we have someone here from PBS. Senator Chesterfield do you yes is okay is in addition to the money. That we appropriated for them to provide this service DO and ninety seven percent of the state. This is the completion of that approach purposes same appropriation we have a hundred twenty thousand I believe was last all that's right this the senator DISMANG said come back into that and that's it thank you so much yes ma'am. Yes. We are waiting on you guys. Patiently. The nature of study proposal none of this is the carriers act appropriation requests for previous. You guys are that eager to get this money I see. Good morning morning. You would introduce yourself and yes add Leon deputy director of Arkansas PBS Monte Rollo director of external relations for were Arkansas PBS. You can go ahead and tell us where we're at on the engineer report and what it found and if those estimates what sure sure sure so members of the council the last time we were before you on July twenty fourth you appropriated funds for the initial phase of our project basically this was the engineering phase to determine if our proposal was in fact even feasible we are here to report that we have successfully achieve that milestone and more we have successfully identified the low power signals and frequencies that will fill the for. Out transmission gap areas into that's the good news the even better news is that we're going to exceed our initial projected coverage of ninety six point four percent of the state and it's going to jump up to ninety nine point five percent of the state so that's really near universal coverage I'm on the federal side we've laid the groundwork with key members of the FCC A a key officials they know about our project they supported and they've indicated that they're inclined to grant us these US special temporary authorities which are the licenses FOR A transmitters we worked with art FTC attorneys to generate the highly technical FCC applications and those are in the works and we expect that those will happen quickly so the FCC is a. Indicated they're gonna grant our proposals and the applications are being being up delivered within the week I think so when we manage all this within the allocated to target budget. Thank you any questions from the committee. Seeing none is there a motion to entertain this appropriation I got a motion from center just filled in the second firms Senator English. All those in favor of any discussion on the motion. All those in favor of the motion say aye. All opposed. seven of. The PBS is granted the