JBC-Personnel
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6 documents
Bills discussed (3)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SB30
Act 134
· 5 mentions in agenda, chapter, transcript
Matched: “…S. Evans, ex officio A. Call to Order Member Amendments: B. SB30- Office of the Governor Amendment JAR144 Senator Rice Const…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB30 is now Act 134 |
|
SB29
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “D. SB29- Lieutenant Governor - Revised letter dated April 17, 2026,…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR. |
|
SB51
· 2 mentions in chapter, agenda
Matched: “C. SB51- Auditor of the State - Revised letter dated April 17, 2026…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE AUDITOR OF STATE - OPERATIONS AND UNCLAIMED PROPERTY PROGRAM APPROPRIATION FOR … | Joint Budget Committee | DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR. |
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- October 2, 2026
right members we're gonna go ahead and call this meeting to order
so today we're going to take some of these items out of order without objection we're gonna go ahead and handle items C and D first and then come back to item B. So with that we will all'll turn it over to Tony Robinson for item C. thank you
Speaker 5
3:24
madam Chair. Item C beginning on page nine is a revised letter in a minute amendment for the auditor's office after the previous letter
and amendment was rereferred from JBC. a summary of the changes requested by the auditor in the new letter can be seen on the spreadsheet on page 17. They have lowered their requested increases in regular salary and match in both their operations and UCp appropriations down to 10%. regulargular salaries and match for
Chair
Unverified
3:51
operations is now $245,490 regular salary and match for UCp is now at $109,711. Members do we have any questions on item
right seeing none do I have a motion for approval and a second a motion in a second. is there any discussion? all those in favor please say aye all opposed no motion carries Itemd Madam Chairman
Speaker 5
4:22
itemd on page nine is a revised letter and amendment from the lieutenant governor's office after being rereferred from JBC. This revised request keeps their positions atlanta at maximums with requested increases shown on the spreadsheet on page 23. The spreadsheet also details the
Chair
Unverified
4:39
revised requests for regular salary and match appropriations totalling $99,876 or 17.43%. all right members do we have any
questions on itemd? seeing none do I
have a motion for approval? motion in a second any discussion? oh sorry, hang on.s discussion umpeaker Evans you're recognized oh oky all right any other discussion seeing none all those in favor
please say aye opposed no motion carries. Thank you guys
and now we're going to move to item B. madam Chairman item B beginning
Speaker 5
5:19
on page three is a memberber amendment from Senator Rice that will amend Senate Bill30 for the governor's office. The amendment will remove one governor senior advisor position at an SPC11 lowering the total authorized positions from59 to58. The amendment will also lower
Chair
Unverified
5:41
regular salaries by $189,211 and matching by75,684 dollars for a total reduction of $264,895. right senator Rri, you are recognized you want me to present from here or go to the table well we're just having a discussion
if you would you can do it at your at your seat that's great.
Speaker 16
5:52
I'm sorry I didn't hear you at your seat is great
where you're at you ready for me to present? Yes ready for discussion yes sir
Senator Terry Rice
Unverified
6:11
madam I brought this amendment to SB30 to the joint budgetgetittee which
is the process available the amendment is necessitated because many Arkansas citizens from around the state feel the former secretary of correctionssiyuri has broken the public trust with them and has been disingenuous in his former title Secretary oforrections and the continuing department oforrection process on multiple issues in the 18 years I've been in the legislature
we have required state employees to testify as co-chairs of joint performance reviewpresentative cozart and myself agreed Mr Puri needed to answer legislators questions regarding his corrections work. the procurement of the Franklin County land had zero public input Mr. Profuri publicly promised transparency and communication would follow it did not I don't believe that one of you would invest your own money in a
project that didn't even have the promise of water yet the legislature wanted to invest millions of taxpayer dollars in a project ripe with basic questions that would drive cost up tremendously and not have a turning back point just to obligate more money without taxpayer's voice as allowed by the Arkansas constitution which we all took an oath to uphold the board of corrections members asked Mr Profiri to share his intended plans as secretary
and they would work with him he ignored multiple attempts a master, a major trust breaker was Mr Purry's refusal to appear as requested by both chairs at the September joint performanceviewittee meeting. this is exactly the mission that joint performance revieww was set up to handle and I'll briefly tell you the duties the joint performance review committee which I'm on
abbreviate as JPR shall have the authority in responsibility one to make random and periodic performance review of specific government programs and agencies 2 conduct investigations in such specific problem areas of the administration of state government as may be brought to the attention of or as determined by the JPR committee or the co-chairs of JPR3, refer
specific problems regarding the operation of state government to appropriate interim committees of the general assembly for continuing study4 conduct hearings on citizen complaints and views regarding the operation of state government and serve as a forum for citizens to air their complaints and suggestions regarding the operation of state government review the expenditures of the various agencies departments and
programs of state government to assure that they are being administered in accordance with legislative intent and being administered in such manner as to provide the taxpayer with the greatest service at the lowest reasonable cost number6 make such reports and recommendations to the governor the general assembly and the legislative council as the JPR committee deems necessary or appropriate to promote more effective and efficient
operation of state government and asea was added investigation investigate allegations of violations of of election law referred by the attorney general's office to finish up respectful factual presentations were made by the public in JPR September committee two agency heads did attend but multiple times they said they didn't know or weren't sure of important questions
Mr Profuia as former Secretary ofrections should have been there to answer legislators questions as I was told during that meeting he was in the capital had been seen in the hall at the same time he didn't even reply and chose a snub legislator's questions the lack of support from legislators on the JPR committee to issue a subpoena is troubling for a second separate legislative branch
that has the right and authority to do that the largest trust breaker was former secretary oforrections Joeerories pulling a major corrections contract that had been worked on for a year and a half. did he favor someone else was just scrapping the committee's vast time spent working on this and replacing them with other people for what he thought would be a predetermined outcome
I don't know he wouldn't answer it resulted in costing Arkansas taxpayers over350 million dollars I am told not the300 I said previously as Secretary ofrections at that time Joeerfury is accountable for what he caused and the lack of want or will to work with others reyha hasn't worked for him it doesn't automatically produce wisdom
$1 million already spent on compensation with what results 35 $0 million wasted almost $1 million spent by veneer for what at least the department oforrections refused their billing Arkansas for liquor first classs airfare and hotel upgrades even Donald Trump replaces appointees when they prove they can't perform duty successfully
let's make a statement that we don't want to continue spending $265,000 a year on bad results and demand public testimony to the legislature's joint performance committee if Joeuri is to continue as a state employee I would appreciate a yes vote for the Arkansas taxpayers you represent
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
12:56
thank you madam chair ir any other discussion
representative Langin you're recognized thank you madam chairir
Representative Lane Jean
Unverified
13:12
I don't have discussion I I was was either talked have the governor's office or the department oforrections come to the table if anybody's here. someone from
the governor's office corrections or DFfa come to the table I'm sure you have
Senator Terry Rice
Unverified
13:32
a a board member here I see
Representative Yeahpresentative Jean you got somebody with the department of corrections is
Speaker 32
13:55
standing up that may want to come forward well that's fine. come to come to the table and
I've got a few questions before we start in on the questions if that's ok that's fine if you'll state your name and who you're with for the record
Lee Watson
Unverified
14:18
please Jimhudson secretarydFfa My name is Lee Watson. I serve on
the board of corrections. just before we start in on questions are are you here on behalf of the board of corrections? have they given you permission to speak on their behalf so you're just here as an independent person yesitize ok senator can recognize Senator Disming real quick. I'll come back to you
if it's in the line of questioning is with this yeah yeah yeah
you're recognized senator Disma. I'm just going to make sure so
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
15:00
we've asked a board of corrections to come up and talk about a governor's office position one of the same board members that was adamant that the governor not have influence on their position. I mean that I I'm not sure what value he's going to bring but if we're going to just have back and forths that aren't tied to the position then I don't think that's the purview
of this subcommittee or really even JbC I mean if we just want to air laundry about how he doesn't like a man then I don't think that's appropriate for this committee and so whatever he does speak to I mean I think we need to be pretty restrained on what we allowed them to do. I think there is definitely irony in someone from the board of corrections wanting to talk about the governors hire
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
15:53
Senator hester you're recognized Yeah. so you you're not speaking on behalf of the board. No, they did not ask you to come so you said just a second ago you were here as a citizen is that correct yes we don't allow citizens to give testimony and and and budget committee so if if you're here on behalf of the board, maybe that's different but if you're here as a citizen we don't we don't take testimony in that committee. I responded only because the
Lee Watson
Unverified
16:23
question was asked if anybody was here from you know with the department so I just want to make sure I
Speaker 48
16:31
made my presence known I understand Senator Desmayne
Representative Jim Wooten
Unverified
16:42
and Senator Hester but Lee Watson is a member of a state board now whether or not he's appearing on behalf of
the board it to me is not an issue now I'm sick and tired of the governor's office running the show and they not even show up today and this is not right for the people of Arkansas and Mr Watson is on the board he has suggestions he has comments if he wants to make them if they're relevant to the matter that
senator Rice has brought before us. I think he should be permitted to
Speaker 23
17:34
do so Representative geneanni you're recognized thank you madam chair
Representative Lane Jean
Unverified
17:39
I just got a few questions I don't know if Mr Hudson or Mr. Watson can answer this you know and and and I really would have liked somebody what is the timeline for Mrerfury which I I support taking over
the department of corrections you know there's been some shift on the board. I don't think the there's any objection to the board or certainly a majority of the board to hire him what are we waiting on will he be head of the department of corrections by July 1 of 2026 which this this bill doesn't affect it until after that Nobody's told me what the plan. I've asked several members nobody knows. I just want to know what the plan is of of Mr
Purry's return to the department of I can't
Speaker 53
18:34
speak to any sort of timeline about that
Speaker 55
18:38
what I can say is Secretary Wallace she is a secretary and she will continue to be a secretary until the governor decides
Speaker 56
18:45
she's not the secretary so you've heard no plans of
Speaker 58
18:50
the timeline of when he returns. I've been part of no
Speaker 59
18:54
discussions about that no sir and but in
Representative Lane Jean
Unverified
19:01
do his job as an adviser to the governor I understand that Mr Watson do you have any idea of of anything you've heard on the board? not on that topic no not on that topic so we have no timeline when he'll we'll return to the department oforrections just that hadn't been discussed and if it's got anything to do with the lawsuit we got a new we got a new board now the lawsuit could have been dropped has that has that been discussed
Representative Lane Jean
Unverified
19:39
in the courts at this time well I guess I've got all I'm gonna get.ppreciate it. thank you
madam chairir sir Senator Johnson, you're recognized thank
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
19:49
you madam chairir. So I heard a lot of don't I
don't know who to ask this question to but the performance in his current job is what's pertinent to the discussion and
all the discussion that was was given was a job that he doesn't currently hold I think that's irrelevancy right now it's it's not what what was done before it's what he's doing now as an advisor that's pertinent to this discussion Representative Kavanaugh you're recognized thank you madam chairir and
Representative Frances Cavenaugh
Unverified
20:33
I'm not sure who can answer this. I'm going to ask
this question best way I know how. If this amendment were to pass and the job was to go away and the the appropriation for the money. there's nothing that prohibits the governor from hiring him as another position. Is that not correct and still you interpret that correctly OK I just want to make sure I understand even if this were to pass, he could still have a job in the governor's staff if she show shows and it's in her her purview to hire who she wants.
Speaker 55
21:09
thank you and just to make sure if I may just that members are clear the governor is making no request of you to change her budget she's she's not asking anything of you other than to continue to approve that which you've prove approved before and she consistently manages her budget conservatively she returned last time over a million dollars of her budget back to the state treasurer she is a shrewd and effective manager of her office's budget.
right seeing no other discussion or questions right what's the will of the committee? I mean I don't motion in a second. any other discussion? all those in favor please say aye opposed no. Yeah the no's have it
Speaker 4
22:45
roll call madam chair starting with senator Petty
Speaker 73
22:53
Senator Blake Johnson Senator Bryant Senator Caldwell Senator Hill Senatorledding Senator dismaying Senator Hester Representative Kavanaugh Representative Jeremiah Moore.
Representative Richmond Representativeholcomb Representative McCullough Representative clowney Representative Jean Representative Evans
right members motion fails we will move on to item E. right
Speaker 5
25:16
madam Chairman moving on to item E this is regular business items item E on page 25 is a request from OPm for the reinstatement of a labor market rate at the crime lab. The request will allow Crime lab to pay up to300,000 dollars to medical examiners working within the facility the estimated cost
to increase all employees excuse me madam chairman so they're taking they're taking the new employees there's two new employees up to300,000. OPm has recommended the requested rate and the action requires approval in lieu of review by the right is there any discussion or questions
on this Senator Bryant you're recognized like he may just for staff are the existing employees medical
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
26:06
examiners already above300,000. I think I would
let Ka barnhill into that yes sir the300,000 dollars rate was approved last year in the existing examiners are already there. Are about this is for two new ones they are nonemployees as of yet they're trying to recruit these people to the state any other questions seeing
none do I have a motion for approval? got a motion in a second
any discussion? all those in favor please say aye opposed no motion carries
Speaker 5
26:44
item F Madam Chairman item F on page 29 is a request from AU Jonesboro for 11 positions from the higher ed central central growth pool the request for positions is tied to the opening of the new school for eterinary medicine. they're requesting one clinic director, one communication specialist, computer support technician, a lab manager, administrator, a lab coordinator,4 lab technicians, mental health clinician and one project
program administrator the department of higher Education has recommended the requested titles and positions sorry ok
all right any questions on this seeing none do we have a motion that this is reviewed motion in a second any discussion? all those in favor
please say aye opposed no motion carries. right members that wraps up all of the business on
Agenda
A. Call to Order
Member Amendments:
B. SB30- Office of the Governor Amendment JAR144 Senator Rice
Constitutional Officer Requests:
C. SB51- Auditor of the State - Revised letter dated April 17, 2026, from Auditor Dennis Milligan Revised Amendment JAR136
D. SB29- Lieutenant Governor - Revised letter dated April 17, 2026, from Lieutenant Governor Leslie Rutledge Revised Amendment JAR134
Regular Business:
E. Request from Department of Public Safety, Division of Arkansas State Crime Lab for the re-establishment of a Labor Market Rate for Medical Examiners. - Requires Approval (Col. Mike Hagar, Secretary)
F. Request from Arkansas State University-Jonesboro for eleven (11) positions from the Higher Education Central Growth Pool established in AR Code 6-63-319. (Dr. Todd Shields, Chancellor)
Documents
| Title | Type | Pages | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agenda — JBC-PERSONNEL, Apr 21, 2026 | Agenda | 1 | Official source ↗ |
| Ex. B Governor SB30 | Exhibit | 6 | Official source ↗ |
| Ex. C Revised Auditor SB51 | Exhibit | 10 | Official source ↗ |
| Ex. D Revised Lieutenant Governor SB29 | Exhibit | 6 | Official source ↗ |
| Ex. E Department of Public Safety - Crime Lab | Exhibit | 4 | Official source ↗ |
| Ex. F Arkansas State University-Jonesboro | Exhibit | 24 | Official source ↗ |
Speakers
Senator Breanne Davis Chair
Unverified
Speaker 5
Chair
Unverified
Speaker 16
Senator Terry Rice
Unverified
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
Representative Lane Jean
Unverified
Speaker 32
Lee Watson
Unverified
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
Senator Bart Hester
Unverified
Speaker 48
Representative Jim Wooten
Unverified
Speaker 23
Speaker 53
Speaker 55
Speaker 56
Speaker 58
Speaker 59
Speaker 61
Representative Frances Cavenaugh
Unverified
Speaker 12
Speaker 4
Speaker 73
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified