JBC-PEER Review
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- October 2, 2026
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:02
Members of on members if you'll get in your seat please
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:11
thank you if you're on the peer subcommittee we're about to start please find your seats everybody else if you would make your way to the back with your conversations in the back or audience if you'll find your chairs please all right call the meeting of peer review subcommittee to order and with that we're gonna recognize Billy to start us
William Parrish
Unverified
1:33
off thank you Mr chair we're in section B. this is very simpleorary appropriation requests. item B1 is a
letter from the auditor of state or370 dollars in appropriation. This is to cover a shortfall for deputy prosecuting attorneystaff learned this is due to increase in insurance rates. it's supported by the state's centralervices fun. Next item B2 is a letter from the department of Education division of elementary and secondary Education is for $10.5 million in spending authority it's to provide districts for uniform rate of tax adjustments that will ensure school districts get their full amount of foundation funding.
these funds will support schools whose net revenues were short when compared against property tax assessments of the school district. This is supported by balances in the public school fund. B3 is a letter from the department of Education school for the deaf and blinds for500,000. According to the letter this is to meet the operating needs of the school it's supported by salary savings B4 is a letter from the department of Labor andliccensing division of bail bonds it's for36,000 the spending authority it's provide for general operating expenses and it's supported by license and application fees. B5 is a letter from laborboor
and licensing division of Electrical it's for6,000 in appropriation it's to provide for additional conference and travel spending authority it's supported by license and application fees. B6 is a letter from the division of HVvac at laborboor and licensings for 26,500. The majority is to cover various operating expenses and 1500 is for a conference and travel. This is supported by license and application fees. Mr chairir, those are all the various
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
2:59
temporary appropriation requests members any questions from any members on regarding b one through6 any questions
see no questions need a motion second to approve B1 through6. got a motion and a second a discussion to the motion
all favor say aye post all right Mr Billy C1 through6.
William Parrish
Unverified
3:23
thank you Mr chair we're in section C these are American rescue plan act appropriation requests. This section has6 requests from the division of workforce Services all requests are for spinning authority to return unexpended funds back to federal partners. C1 is 225,000 to return funds from the TAn
program C2 is53,000 to return funds from the unemployment insurance IT modernization project C3 is 99,000 to return funds from the unemployment insurance raud detection and prevention project C4 is 183,000 to return fund s from the unemploymentsurance Equity grant C5 is 20,000 to return funds from the unemploymentsurance integrity grant and C6 is 1el,000 to return funds from the expanding the public health workforce project. miss chair those are all thearA requests.
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
4:07
right those are C1 through6 any questions from any members
hang on one second can we get can we get somebody to the table on C1 please? somebody from the agency onc1
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
4:36
or Nemon title for the record pleaseirriff pull that mic down if you will so we can
Speaker 21
4:40
hear you please. Good morning. I'mstephenessey, CFfo with Division of Workforce Services
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
4:44
thank you what I just heard was 225,000 and if I understood it right would be return to the feds because it was not
Speaker 24
4:51
used am I correct or incorrect on that this was for the pandemic emergency assistance funds what tannF allowed at that time was a 1 time450 dollars payment that went out to TanF recipients for people that moved or checks that were never cashed we were required to hold those funds for two years because they had the opportunity to come back and get them that time is now expired and they've not requested those funds so now
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
5:15
it needs to go back to the federal government. thank you any other questions all right thank you all right any other questions onc1 through6 C none take a motion got a motion approved second got a motion seconds
William Parrish
Unverified
5:36
discussion to the motion all favor say aye post right
Billyd 12 thank you Mr. Sherber in sectiond these are infrastructure investment and jobs actct appropriation requestsd one is a request from the department of Public
Safetydivision of statelice is for 1.8 million inp spending authority. they have a grant from the US Department of Justice for the commercial driver's license programme implementation. it'll be used for overtime and associated fringe calls for Cd coordinators auditing costs and training three vehicles for C coordinators audit travel semi truck forlas A Cdl examiner training and IT and maintenance costs associated with the program.d2 is from the department of agriculture at69,000 in appropriation. they have a grant from the USDA forervice that will be passed through to Pope
County for developing a community wildlife protection plan. chair those are all the IIJA requests
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
6:22
any questions ond12 for members any questions seeing no questions motion to approve got a motion second got a motion second any discussion to the motion seeing none all in favor say aye
William Parrish
Unverified
6:40
post passes e Billy please thank you Mr. Char we're in section E these
are strict reserve fund transfer requests the first item
is a letter from the department of Education division of higherducation. this is a $12 million transfer from the teacherer academy scholarship set aside.ccording to the letters provided for the
the distribution of scholarships. This is for college students who are majoring in education degree
programs E2 is a letter fromducation division of elementary and secondaryducation. This is a35 million dollars transfer from the educational facility set aside this is to fund the education facilities partnership program where the department and the public school district share
the cost of school facilities construction and major innovations. E3 is a letter from commerce Economic Development Commission. it's a $25 million transfer request from the economic stimulus programme set aside this is used for site infrastructure grants and economic stimulus activities share those are all the transfer requests
members any questions on the 1 through3? and questions from members seeing no questions
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
7:38
from members motion to approve motion second
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
7:49
motion second aid discussion to the motion all in favor say aye posts all
William Parrish
Unverified
7:55
right and Billy it takes a step thank
you Mr chairrburn in section F this this is a reallocation of resources request. this is from the department of commercepecial language allows the department to request up to two reallocations within a fiscal year. This is for effective and efficient operations. This is the first request for the department on page four is a summary of the reallocations requested the department requests transferring64
positions between divisions most of the positions are coming out of the division of workforceervices and workforce policy and innovation and they are going to reemployment and shared services. The department also requests transferring $2 million in spending authority from the division of workforce Services and send it to reemployment the increased capabilities of accesswork, the governor's commission onult literacy and the construction industry craft training programme. these adjustments support the department's organizational realignment and also prevents prevent salaries and match shortfalls according to the secretary's letter. Questions from members
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
8:53
Any questions all right see no questions motion to approve motion to approved second
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
9:02
got a motion second any discussion to the motion all in favor say aye
William Parrish
Unverified
9:11
all opposed passes Billy thank you miss chair we've now entered the review section of the
agenda. this sectiong is cash fund appropriation requests Itemg1 is a letter from department of Education division of Career and technical
Education for 207,000 in appropriation. This is to use unexpended funds from previous years on the adult diploma programme. G2 is a letter from commerce Economic Development Commissions for 25 million is to provide the spending authority for the restricted reserve fund transfer that was approved
earlier in the agenda. Mr chairir, those are the two catch requests. right any questions from ent er
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
10:09
Artentator Irvin, you recognize just a question on G2 real quick on the 25
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
10:15
million you want the agency up can we get the agency to come up, department of commerce please. on G2
Speaker 44
10:39
Morning name and title for the record please. good morning Cclint O'Neal executive
Speaker 47
10:47
director Arkansas Economic Development Commission. good morningmy Williams, CFfo Department of Commerce.
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
10:54
right good morning Senator Irving. thank you. good morning. could you just give me a little bit more information on the site infrastructure grants and economic stimulus activities throughout the state. could you just give me some examples of what we're talking about what we're funding and where in the state just because I would just
Speaker 51
11:11
want to make sure rural Arkansas is covered in this absolutely This started for us in 2023 with an allocation of $10 million from the general assembly and then in 202,550 million dollars,25 million dollars per year fiscal year for Fy26 and Fy27 for Fy26 we partnered with the site selection firm called Site Selection Group who helped us analyze site development needs around the state so we opened this up applications with an eligibility
criteria of communities that have sites of 30 plus acres that are owned by municipalities or chambers of commerce or economic development organizations and so we had 29 applications of eligible sites to be reviewed we had a team of site selection consultants visit all 29 of those communities and so it was a great exercise for the communities to have a professional site selection consultant come to town do this evaluation of their site
so we have notified communities of the awards and we have we'll call a bigze ceremony on the twentyeighth of this month but of the of the applications we received they range everywhere from due diligence studies so if a community acquires land or they have an option on the land and they just want to do some basic environmental studies, some soil borings just studying the site to determine is this really a good
site to move forward with with infrastructure that's something that we really wanted to to lean in on so we funded several of those as well as actual infrastructure build out clearing of sites making industrial sites more attractive for users but we have I've got the list here it's it's it's around 1518 or so communities several in rural areas'm happy to get this to you.
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
13:09
OK good. I just I think it's really
important to partner with our rural communities as you described and I'm glad to hear that because they've they need to have a collaboration and a partnership in order to really grow any kind of industrial presence or anything like that so I think you know hopefully too you're working with communities to say you have an opportunity you know to to go down this path and purchase if they don't already have it. I hope we can kind of look get to that next level just because I feel like there's
missed opportunities with economic development if we're not focusing on just that very first step. so I appreciate the information. thank you
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
13:55
any other questions members senator Bryant yeah thank you
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
13:58
Mr chairir just to just to follow on Senator Urvin what what is the is there any clawbacks to this if you if you give these grants out and they're supposed to do selection or bring infrastructure there and other things get in the way in two years go by or is that just
money lost or is there clawbacks are there provisions
Speaker 51
14:19
that you know make them accountable. there's a matching requirement and then there's a grant agreement in the same way we would do a grant agreement with a company so we'll either do a reimbursement or pay a direct invoice to an engineering firm or to a to a construction firm so it's it's not a grant directly to the community it's there are some measures built in to ensure that they're spending the money in accordance with the agreement. OK thank you
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
14:46
any other members iss that limited to just 30 acre sites uh30 acres is the minimum. yes sir that's the minimum yes sir OK all right any other questions OK thank you all thank
you all right that was on G2 right? OK. uh, any other
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
15:05
questions ong one or two? then without objections these will be reviewed Billy
William Parrish
Unverified
15:18
Thank you Mr Chair. we're in section H. These are budget classification
transfer requests the first oneh1 is from the department ofarks heritage and tourism Ke Arkansas beautiful to50,000 dollars transfer from professional fees to operating expenses morere operating expenses are needed due to increased volunteer participation Next item ish2. This is commercesurance department this is $100,000 transfer from operating expenses to professional fees. This is to support the senior medicare patrol which utilizes outreach
to prevent, detect and report healthcare fraud errors and abuse sharere those are
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
15:57
the two BcT requests any questions on h one or two any questions right then
William Parrish
Unverified
16:06
without objections these will be reviewed. Billy, I Thank you M Sherrre in section i these are pay plan appropriation requests. there are33 agencies that request 15.9 million in increasedinning authority for regular sal regular salaries match and extra help. Almost all
cite the salary adjustments that came from implementation of the pay plan within the classic compact. The prosecutor coordinator also cites the employee retirement payout the inspector general cites hiring an intern at the juvenile ombudsman division to help the law clerk and agriculture sites more extra help is needed to assist with overdue field of water and sewer
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
16:40
projects. any questions members on senator Blake Johnson. you want the agency agg
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
16:51
can we get ag to the table please you're on number32 Senator Johnson yeah I'm on
Chair
Unverified
17:33
the record please gentlemen. yes sir westward Arkansas department of
Speaker 71
17:37
agriculture. you knew Suzaki department of agriculture. Senator Johnson you recognized so it has Chico insights LLc what under that is in the pay plan that just looks like grant's disbursement not pay
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
18:00
Sir Johnson could you be a little we're on we're onh the pay plan where are you
Speaker 63
18:10
referencing please? or I I'm sorry we're oni oh
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
18:14
crap, I'm on ill. sorry y'all just stay there. OK I got ainn you're coming back don't
don't go nowherere sorry that's ok you're ahead you're ahead like it like it. right. any questions on uhi on the pay plan. any questions from members
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
18:33
Senator Irving go ahead. Who for? really just for staff yeah so this is an amount of appropriation transfer are these exact amounts of actual dollars that are going to transfer or up
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
18:46
to this amount Ha hang on one second you guys just stay there if you want to come have a seat beside them
William Parrish
Unverified
18:53
that'll save movement and time but going to defer to Billy first Senator Irvin's question. go ahead yes sir. I may have to defer todd andA for a more exact answer but my understanding this is appropriation requests they will use existing salary
savings to pay for these but as if they required more money you'd see a transfer from
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
19:10
the performance fund so do we have how much what that direct that transfer from the performance fund is going to be we've had a few
William Parrish
Unverified
19:20
transfers two months ago. that's all seen this fiscal year so far we might see more towards the end of the fiscal year. I'll make sure to get that information for you when we see it
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
19:37
Yeah cause I'd I'd like to see the difference between the appropriation transfer fund amounts and what's
actually been transferred over if we could get that at some point you want yeah Jim you want to come up please Mrhudson
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
19:53
ma'am I'm at a loss are you at the department of agg
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
19:58
sitting with them she with you all right
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
20:10
I'm gonna have the whole you know, state government up there by the end of
Speaker 93
20:15
this right?imtson secret ofdFA I didn't hear all the question if if it's about appropriation versus funding all the requests for this month are
Speaker 94
20:22
strictly appropriation only. there is no no no funding at all with that they're going to be able to fund these appropriation increases through their existing funds it's just the authority to spend we do have pay plan the the the pay plan account it's got45 million dollars in it but none of those requests are pending for this month.
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
20:44
yeah because when OKok it's just a little confusing when you look at this because it says pay plan holding account is marked so it looks like we're transferring but it's just an appropriation
Speaker 93
20:54
so c strictly just an we're transferring appropriation over from that but it's not funding got you right there has to be a preapproved appropriation someplace that we got to move over for that all right
Speaker 80
21:05
thank you senator in the fourth column if
William Parrish
Unverified
21:07
you see performance fund there's nothing enlisted for this month but that would be where a fund transfer would go
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
21:17
over right thank you thank you all right any other questions this is onii any other questions? all right then with the objection they'll stand reviewed and we're
William Parrish
Unverified
21:30
going on to Jay Thank you Mr Chair in section J these are overtime appropriation requests there are two on the agenda. The first one is Department of Education, school for the blind and deaf, deaf and blind it's for5,000 it's due to staffing shortages. J2 is a department of financedministration racing
commissions 15,000. it's to support the operations to the end of the horse racing season. any questions members on J one or two any
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
21:57
questions all right then without objections these will be
William Parrish
Unverified
22:02
reviewed Kay Thank you M chair we're in section K. These are methods of finance. there's 17 items. The cover letter submitted by DFfaccounting states they have reviewed and submitted 17 projects for legislative review this morning. They are summarized in the attached pages on page two is the first three
items with ASU Jonesboro number one is a new method of finance valued at743,000 using university reserves for first National Bank Arena court.umber 2 is also new it's valued at586,000 using university reserves for parking lot lighting also for the arenaumber3 is a revised method increasing funding by 200,000 for continued construction of the equine teaching barnumber4 is from Arkansas Tech University. it's new it's valued at500,000 using repair and renovation reserves for renovation of the whole building that's the physical
education gym. Number5 is Arkansas Tech University new it's valued at450,000 using bond proceeds and to add an agricultural classroom to the aroation building on the next page we're on page three now in section K. this is Northwest Arkansas Community College is number6. it's new it's valued at 1.1 million using cash funds to replace the declining urns halls chiller items7 through 11 are all for the University of Arkansas atfayteville7 through 10 are all revised methods of finance for ongoing job order
contracting for various maintenance and renovation projects around Ua campus. all our increases to existing projects and are paid using university reserves on the next page we're on page four and section K number 11 is a new method valued at6 million using parking reserves for the construction of a new 1700 space parking garage and razorbackRoad in Fayetteville 12 through 13 are for the U ofAdivision of agriculture number 1el is a new method estimated at520,000 using plant reserves for a new
hazardous material storage building and number 13 is a new method valued at 1.1 million using plant reserves to renovate ive greenhouses at the Alheimer greenhouse complex. on page five we're still in section K number 14 is UA Littlerock. This is news for7.1 million using cash funds for campus wide renovations and improvements.umber 15 UAMS this is new valued at7 million using revenues and reserves for deferred maintenance and minor repair projectsumber 16 is new valued at720,000 using uns
university reserves to renovate space into a radiography fluoroscopy room. Number 17 is UA Pulaski Technical College. This is a new method for440 000 using institutional reserves for the crane room in South Pawcafe renovation. all right
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
24:37
members that's one through 17. any questions any questions
all right here no questions and with objections these be reviewed and we're on tol1 and2. Thank you
William Parrish
Unverified
24:51
M Sher we're in section L. these are discretionary grantsl1 our
Department of agricultural promotion boards there's 14 of them L1 number one is Arkansas Rice Research Promotion Boardspecial revenue grant for60,000 for research to enhance milling quality for Arkansas rice grants 2 through 1el are all for the Arkansas soybean promotions board using special revenues.2 is 15,500 tomisouth soybean board for interstate collaboration or research projects for soybean industry improvement.umber3 is42,000 for membership dues and project funding to the American Soybean Association
on the next page we're in section L page2.umber4 is 95,000 to the US soybean Expert Council export council for membership dues and project funding. Number5 is40,000 Clean fuels alliance America for Education and Marketing a soybased biodiesel number640000 to American Soybean association for the World Initiative for soy and humanman Health Next page page3 number7,206,000 Arkansas soybean association grow for the green yield contest withua cooperative extensionum
825,000 to Arkansas FFA Foundation for Education, Career Success and FFfa programs.umber 915,000 you Arkansas FFfa Foundation and4h Foundation for promotion of education for corn sorghum and soybeans for Arkansas4h and FAFA youth Next page page4 in section L.umber 10 is 130,040 to the three county fair for soybean promotion programs at the fairumber 1,115,000 to the Ia soybean association for grants for the farmers fueling the future research project. Number
12,111,000 to Chico Insights for research grants for irrigation and aquifer stabilization page five is a grant's number 13 through fi5 or for the Arkansas corn grain and sorghum promotion board Number 13 is 25,000 to Arkansas FFfa for a grant for the future programme.4 is 15,000 the Arksla FFfaoundation and Arkansas 4H Foundation for grants for the promotion of education accordance organs soybeans and Arkanel4H and FF a youth and number 15 is77,000 to US grants and by ourroducts Council for the time is now
promotional project. Let share that's all section L1 the department of agricultural
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
27:05
promotion boards all right members senator Johnson you are up and y'all too have already introduced
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
27:10
yourself young man or man ma'am would you please introduce yourself for the record please
Speaker 102
27:17
Amy Lyman with the Arkansas department of agriculture.
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
27:20
you ma'am. right Senator Johnson, you're clear.
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
27:26
Na, hang on a second. it's operational
Speaker 71
27:33
dysfunction up here right there you go so I have two and that's number one and number 12 can you give us some insight on who GNH associates
Speaker 104
27:49
Yes sir and and and I may if if I can I'll go in reverse order if that's ok I'll serve number 12 with Chico inside I just pulled up a little more information on that so that's so that total $111,040 it really
is is two separate projects so one is uh41,020 dollars this project aims to close the yield gap for overhead irrigation systems they're optimized scheduling techniques and then the second one is for70,020 dollars and this work would quantify the water flow needed to optimize productivity while minimizing the irrigation demand on aquifers so that's a a little more information than what was necessarily provided and what was submitted over but 22 separate projects all looking at water use and irrigation
Speaker 71
28:36
techniques that was approved by the soybean promotion boardard. I can save you70,000 did at night yes sir great point. so what about I mean who who is that who is that group Chico insights
Speaker 107
28:52
I I believe they're a I'll miss I'll misstate this and don't and I don't
Speaker 104
28:57
mean to you butth I think they're associated witheco irrigation and just kind of the the research arm of of of of what they do I I could get
you additional information of of who all is involved but they came they gave a presentation be happy to happy to share their full
Speaker 71
29:14
proposal and what they submitted to the board does our extension
Speaker 107
29:18
not do similar research I I would say that they do. I know a lot of work that we've worked with
Speaker 104
29:25
them on through the state water plan and that the research and promotion boards hear specific proposals from the University of Arkansas as well. I think there were you know total total for for the soybean promotion board was I think
111 total proposals that were presented and ended up funding 96 of them the University of Arkansas was was there for for all of those presentations on March 12th and 13th. I think this was just a decision by the board to go this direct
Speaker 71
29:53
ion on this specific project OK number one who isgNh associates is that a is that a corporate or is that a llc or is that just some two or three people this is Ronnie Helms and he
Speaker 102
30:10
was previously withu of a and he is doing a research project this is I believe the3rd year of
Speaker 71
30:22
this project that he's been doing. what's the background in enhancing milling that he he he brings to the table beyond our producers or wrestling similar on that'd be
Speaker 104
30:34
happy to to share his full proposal that he submitted to the board and I
I think the the overall concern I think what the board was looking at on this one was just the the the milling issues that I know that you're you know personally very familiar with and in the rice industry and trying trying to help
Speaker 70
30:55
address some of those concerns that that exist for for for all of the rice industry. that's that's seed quality and seed that's
Speaker 71
31:02
as an issue that's not done during milling that's that's see seed problems so thank you
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
31:10
Senator Irvin mine's for DHS. OK. any other questions
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
31:27
for right, I guess y'all are excused all right we're going so onl1 no other questions it'll be approved without objection then all right we're gonna get uhl2 Department of humanman Services.y'all want to go ahead and start making your way up while Billy gives us a
William Parrish
Unverified
31:42
report please. Thank you Mr. Sher we're in L2 this is pages 6 and7 with thel2 in the top right hand corner this is the department of humanman Services discretionary
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
31:52
grants all for the dHS in the room forl2 department of humanman Services you in the room yeah go ahead and come on
William Parrish
Unverified
32:03
and make your way forward. These are all for the division of
adults aging adultshavial healthalervis these are federal grants.umber one amends an existing grant to senior Arkansas sportsgan organization
for the Arkansas Senior Olympics in 2 through4 amend existing grants toarcareuture buildilder and Newhan counseling and healthalth Services for retired senior volunteer program to share those are all thedJs grants in thel2. right Jy name and title for the record please Ja Hill division
Speaker 116
32:27
director for agging Adultha behaviorvior healthalth at DHS do me a favor
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
32:30
and pull the mic down a little bit and Senator Irvin you're recognized thank
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
32:34
you thank you Mr Hill. could you just I see that this is a federal they're federal grants
but um, our federal funding just I'm confused by the grants for this RSVP program senator thank
Speaker 116
32:50
you these are this is state funding this is not federal funding the RSVp program retires thought I thought it
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
32:58
was state but I think you read it was federal. OK OK yes
Speaker 116
33:04
so go go ahead it's it's it's a it's a program for retired seniors these are persons who are55 or older who
volunteer their time to serve in community and community engagement projects they do a lot of child mentoring medicaid Medicare application assistance for senior citizens tax preparation other community projects there are I believe it was last year there were 824 volunteers and they served just over 220,000 people so the money goes
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
33:38
to the volunteers? Yes ma'am it
Speaker 116
33:41
is it offsets it's not really a volunteer position
it is it is it's a part time limited funding, limited salary reimbursements for their for their services how much
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
33:54
administration money do these organizations take from the state grants or just 100% of the money go to the volunteers. I want to say that it is 100% but
Speaker 120
34:03
if you allow me let me verify that for you senator and I can get that for
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
34:10
you today. Yeah I just you know there's a lot of conversation during this fiscal session and during joint budget and state general revenue being tight. and I
and I appreciate those conversations and so it makes me then start to consider what we're doing with our state general revenue and if these are if this was federal funding and it was very prescribed I can understand the spend. but when we're coming to state general revenue we're being questioned about what is worthwhile what is not we're making decisions and choices. you know, I have a program in my district save the Children which
is employing people in my district and it's losing500,000 dollars of state funding because there's not enough money but now I see this for for volunteer position that we're going to pay them for through state general revenue and I don't know how effective it is. I don't know anything about this program. I don't know if these organizations are taking administrative money from this or not I know this program has been very effective at working with
children and moms and single moms and poor poor families in my district and employing people with the money, whereas I don't know how effective this is and I'm and every time we award a grant if it gets subcontracted out, they're taking administration money. they're taking administration money and to me that's just not very effective and wise use of our money. so appreciate maybe what's happening. I just don't know much about it and I think we've
got to start questioning everything if things are getting chopped on the chopping block, then we should look at everything to see if it's actually a good thing to continue or not. So if you can get that information for me I would really appreciate it. Is there a way that we could hold on these just until
Speaker 123
36:12
I can get that information So Jay if we hold this to the
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
36:24
next meeting which is about two weeks is that going to interfere with operations or anything? No senator.
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
36:31
I really appreciate that'll be happy to submit that to you
today if you don't mind it could be great and worthwhile just don't really know and just need
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
36:39
to question it. thank you thank you Mr Hilly if you will email that directly toenator Irving but then send it to Billy too so the rest of the committee can have that as well if you would please be my pleasure and do you know what the total dollar amount we're talking about on this item is it is75,000 dollars split between the three providers
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
36:56
OK so75 is the top out amount we're talking about OK all right follow up senator any other questions on on that subject matter OK seeing none Jay thank you very much. So without objection we're gonna holdl without objection we're gonna pass out
L1 but we're going to hold l2 to the next meetingbody understand everybody good any questions right then that's what we'll do without objection, l one will be sent out.l2 is going to be held over and Jay will get the information. OK? let's move on
William Parrish
Unverified
37:44
to M please, Billy. thank you Miss Sher we're in section elm these are requests for qualifications in one is one item for Arkansas State University Jonesboro's for real estate services and on page five there's a
ratification request ASsu has entered into a contract with Conn Strategic Consulting for public relations and marketing strategies. ASU states due to an internal error, the contract withbond began prior to receiving legislative review. issue request for ratification of services valued at37,500 for services rendered prior to proper review later in the packet you will see the contract with bond it's will now be submitted for review. Mr Chair that's
the end of M1rfQ and ratification requests.
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
38:28
all right any questions on M135 from anybody sorry we just do one at a time.
William Parrish
Unverified
38:39
Any questions on M1? right without objection it's reviewed M2 Billy? thank
you Mr Sher and M2 these are construction contracts they begin on page six with M2 in the top right hand corner. Number one is Department oforrections, Communityorrection withhittenberg Deloney Davidson revising an existing contract on on call architectural
services.umber 2 is Northwest Arkansas Community Collegerosslin struction and me's an existing contract for ongoing repair and renovations after storm damage that occurred in May2024. Number three is north of Oxall Community College withinco Constructors. it's a new contract to accomplish the replacement of a chiller in Burns hall on the Ninha campus. Number4 is University of Arkansas with Bernard. this amends the contract for one call mechanical lumbing and engineerervices.umber5 is University of Arkansas with the Cromwell Energy Services. it's a new contract for agricultural building design review for
theuaystem agriculture division foodciencesearchenter Miss sure those were all M2 construction contracts. any questions on M2 from
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
39:36
anybody? without objection they'll be reviewedm3 Billy thank you Miss Sherburn
William Parrish
Unverified
39:41
M3 these are intergovernmental contracts begin on page nine
of the unpacket there are 8 contracts. Number one is the Department of Correction division oforrection with UAMS. it amends an existing contract for risk assessments of juvenile sex offenders on the next page is page 10,
number 2 is department of Education with ASU Jonesboro. it amends an existing program for evaluations for the Arkansaswaregrame for mental healthal awareness and trauma informed practicesumber3 is Department of humanman Services with UAMs that mes an existing contract for medical services for patients of the Arkansas State Hospital as needed.umber4 Department of humanman Services with UAMs amends an existing contract for the sexual rehabilitative rehabilitative program. Next page is page 11,5 DHS with UAMsends in exist ing contract to fund assessment of children with special
healthcare needs. Number6 DHS with UMS it amends an existing contract to continue the antenatal and neonatal guidelines education and learning system and stroke assistance programs Next page number7 is department of humanman Services with UAMs admits an existing contract that supports phys physicians with collaborative program development and integrated advocacy of public policy issues Next page we're on page 13. this is the last contract DHS with UEMS it means an existing contract for the poison control
drug Information Center. share that's all of M3 intergovernmental contracts any questions on M3 from anybody? any questions without objection they reviewed M4 Billy thank you Miss Cher we're now
an out of state contracts4 begin on page 14.umber 1 is Department of Transportation witharcia Hamilton associates it's an amended contract that manages thearkas State highway employee retirement system trusts assets for its retirement system.umber 2 is Department oforrectionsdrB Consulting it's theended contract. this is to provide
prison rape ellimination Act audits Next item is number3 on page fi5. This is Department of Education B andW evaluation Llc it's an original contract. this is also a sole sourcece procurement the just justification form is green is at the bottom of the packet. This is for analysis and reporting.umber4, ation care solace inc it's mended it's a mental healthal referral services number5 division of career and technicalducation from with graduation alliance. this is an amended
contract for the adult diploma program ber6 is on the next page we're on page six this is DhS with Woodridge Northeast LLc it's an amended contract. This is for comprehensive resol treatment services for youth.umber7 DHS ACA GpS it's amended this is for IRS Affordable Care Act provider requirements related to minimal essential coverage.umber 8 CHS EMS linknkinc this is an original contract it's also soulleoce procurement the green justification form
again found at the bottom of the packet. This is for network solutions functionality requests change requestsvial updates on demand operational needs new integration efforts and major licensed software upgrades. Number 9 is DHS Records Consultant inc. This is amended it's for one site pickup shredding removal and disposal services.umber 10 DhS the Procio Corporation. this is the mini contract for unifiedtractent er Enterprise integrated eligibility and benefits management on the next page we're on page 18 number 11dHS
EGA associates it's an amended contract for school psychology specialist services atalla Human Development Center number 1el DHS EJ Associates this is an amended contract for a psychological examiner services at Conway Human Development Center number 13 DhS Optimum Government Solutions. this is amended it's for decision support and data warehouse services Next page we're on page 2014 highway department or ardot it's for Casleark management it's an amended contract. this is
managing the state highway employee's retirement system next page is page 21 number 15, highway department again this is Northern Trust Company. This is again the highway retirement systemstem services number 16 is State Department for socialcial Security Administration dissability determination with Caleb Neeson. This is an original contract. This is for Social Security Administration medical consultantumber 17 is University of Arkansas with Hrond llc and it's in a registered contract for access control consultant services we're on
page 22 number 18 University of Arkansas Choice Energyervices. it's a minute contract for a continuation of natural gas broker consultants. Mr Chair, that is all of M4 out
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
44:21
of state contracts. right let's start with who uhs representative Richardson who do you want to the table? department
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
44:31
of human services department of humanman Services fee
Scott Richardson
Unverified
44:38
well let's start with the number 8 EMS link Inc e o ur ce who wants to
take on the sole source and your item
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
44:55
number 8, is that right that's correct good
morning name and title for the record
Speaker 139
45:04
please morning Sarah Cunningham DhS All right
Scott Richardson
Unverified
45:08
you recognized uhpresentative Richardson thank you Mr Chair. so so help me walk me through the decision for
Speaker 139
45:17
Soulource on this particular item Sure so this system we have had for about7 years prior to requesting the sole source continuation. um, going into the decision is that proprietary nature of all of the algorithms that they developed for the interfaces with Aries, as well as
link scanned so what EMSlink does is they've they've completed customized enhancements and they provide the electronic imaging and document management solution software that's used in our work with medicaid Snap, summermmer EBT andtea beneficiary files. and so what we looked at was really the current cost. We knew the price and then they've also done a lot of customized work for
Speaker 142
46:04
us so to continue that and then not have any
Scott Richardson
Unverified
46:10
disruptions in the service. OK so does the department not own the algorithms that were produced for the specific software? would they need to be rebuilt if someone else took over
Speaker 139
46:24
the software yes they would need to be rebuilt. I think from the funding source we would own it but we don't have the capability to run it on our own through this solution so you'd have to have the algorithms taken out and then they would live alone. but if there are I'm not the
information officer. she's on in at conference so she would probably be a better person to explain kind of all of
Scott Richardson
Unverified
46:49
those nuances would what would be the impact of holding this one until she
Speaker 139
46:53
can answer some questions for me? Oh sorry.
Scott Richardson
Unverified
46:55
can you say that again? What's what would be the impact of holding this until we
Speaker 139
47:01
can get some answers for those questions the anticipated contracts start for this one would be May1st so if we could try to get that we've been there's been a delay in between so we would
Speaker 142
47:13
appreciate an expedited review but we can definitely get answers
Scott Richardson
Unverified
47:16
for you. Yeah I I would appreciate having that conversation and understanding a little bit more so Yeah I I Mr Chair, can we hold this one
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
47:44
uhpresentative Richardson, let me ask you if you got your information by tomorrow you think that'd
Scott Richardson
Unverified
47:50
satisfy you? I think it would if I can get a a reasonable answer as to why we don't necessarily own the algorithms while the algorithms themselves couldn't be transferred to us to to continue to or I should say to a new vendor I think that would help me understand why we've decided to do a sole source think you can get that to him by tomorrow?
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
48:21
all right let's do this let's put it on hold but JBC can hear it tomorrow so it could be released out of JbC tomorrow so if if you can get together and then if you don't get what you need by tomorrow we'll we pick it up on Jbc in the morning. how does that sounds good that is that good with you ok right I have more questions for
Scott Richardson
Unverified
48:41
the department I'm jumping to item number 10 OK can you handle 10
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
48:45
or is it somebody else to the table
this is yeah that one you said 10 right represented Richardson yes sir I did do
Speaker 139
49:21
you see which one he's talking about? Yes sir you need to bring somebody up or yeah Mary Franklin is not here. I can do my best or at least take your questions and then get answers to you
Scott Richardson
Unverified
49:33
if I'm not able to answer. Go ahead Representative Richardson. actually I'm looking at this item and it doesn't look
like it's the cellsoce the other cello and that's coming from your department I'm trying to get questions or have questions on or is it
Speaker 139
49:50
P presidio was awarded through a state cooperative contract. so it's not selfsource
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
50:11
he uhpresentative Richardson, Billy's going to weigh in
William Parrish
Unverified
50:15
and share some info may help you that'd be great representative so number3 for the department of Education it
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
50:23
was the sole source with BMW evaluation are
Speaker 175
50:28
you looking for sole source ones representing rich no it's
Scott Richardson
Unverified
50:32
not generally just a selfoce this is if you look at the cello justification form special procurement page
I guess it's 9 the last page what is that item number referencing because that is Department of
William Parrish
Unverified
50:56
humanman Services Billy's looking for it p re s ent ative so you're in the green packet can you tell me which page you're on in the green packet I'm looking at the green packet soo letter yeah page last page last page
Speaker 177
51:15
yes sir this is for instate contracts we haven't gotten there yet. OK. so I'm way ahead of the game it's always nice. there
Scott Richardson
Unverified
51:21
is another one in this packet I guess it's number 13 if I may Mr chairir is thatdHS also isdHS'sopptimum
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
51:29
you're up to opptum or one of y'all name and title for the
Speaker 182
51:36
record please. good morning good morning Elizabeth pittman director of division of
Scott Richardson
Unverified
51:39
medicalical Services. All right, go ahead actually I'm I'm probably asking questions that we'll just
or that it came from another member but one of the questions that we're I'm curious about on this particular contract is when does it actually expire it looks like it's been going on for a long we keep adding to it it looks
like it's a a contracted amount that's fairly standard but when does this actually contract end
Speaker 185
52:16
2028. sorry for the I'm sorry when June30th of 2028 OKok so so we're just
Scott Richardson
Unverified
52:22
looking at two years down the road at this point. I guess I'm sort of jumping the gun a little bit but my concern is there is another you guys have another contract where apparently we waited till the last minute we're not able to get the process the competitive bid process in place and so now we're having to extend that contract and so my concern is that this one ending in two years have we already
started those conversations so we're going to be ready to
Speaker 181
52:51
have competitive bid before this ends. We have already completed the RfP put it out for bid. We are have already completed evaluations aren in the process of reviewing those and doing discussions with the vendors to do an anticipation to awards. So yes sir we are actually ahead for once that sounds
Scott Richardson
Unverified
53:06
great so that's what that's what I was hoping for. I appreciate that very much thank you Mr Chair. right
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
53:19
I was having sideba did you get your answers? Yes sir, I did. thank you
so much. OK. all right so you're done you're good for now OK, all right we're going to sendirrving and then we're
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
53:31
going to represent Mayberry next ahead thank you.ine's not for DHs I'm not sure ifpresentative Mayberry
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
53:36
is or not. Representing Mayberry your's fordhS OK. I guess you guys are guess you guys are done
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
53:42
and actually I just I mean Department of Ed could come forward but if they want to just get me information that's fine
too. I'm just really interest I'm just kind of want to know more about the CareSource, I mean the care solace#4, the mental healthal referral service the mental healthal referral services mental health counseling referral services for Arkansas schools. I just if you're listening you don't have to necessarily come to the table but if you could just get me a little bit more information about like what this is and what is made available to our Arkansas schools is it is it all of the Arkansas schools is it a,
um, are we paying for like a, um, a line like a hotline with this information. It's number4, Greg. Id I'm just mental health has just been a big, you know it's the number one thing that I get asked about when I go and visit with my schools is they're just struggling with their kids and mental health. so could you just give me a little bit more information either here or you can get it to me it's no problem but I just want to make sure that we're covering as many bases as possible and giving these schools
you know tools that they can use with their
Speaker 189
54:54
students so I'm just interested in this one uhgreg rogeralmmehe uhanceirten yes we are offering it to all schools and this
Speaker 191
55:00
is the we got started late in the year last year with Karishollis getting is the like the concierge type service that helps districts court when they identify a student that needs mental health to to find out the best avenue to get them we're continuing to to introduce that to more schools and that's why we're renewing this this early now so at the beginning of
Speaker 189
55:19
the school district we can try to contact even more schools to get them hooked up
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
55:24
with Karis Hollis and offer that service to any school that wants to use it. OK, so they kind of just walk you through what's happening with your students and then give advice about how
Speaker 191
55:36
the deal with that certain situation if the student is identified as needing services then then carrasolis helps find that person whether it be telehealth or in person they're the ones that are gonna help find what services are needed for that student. OK great OK
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
55:49
good. I mean I just I'm glad I asked about this because I didn't know we were doing it and
we have some information that I'd be happy to send to you and get to you on mean love that we're doing this because they need help and this is the number one that thing I get asked about is we've got to have more tools to help our students because we don't know what to tell them we don't know so good that's great if you can just get me more information and then let us know how we can communicate this out to our schools like use us as a conduit for this I think would be a really great idea like as for legislators to to talk to their schools specifically about what
Speaker 156
56:26
we're doing here for them. ma'am thank you. great great job. thanks. rightpresentative Mayberry who's you who are
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
56:38
you for? sayy there greg all right go ahead you recognize. thank you and thank you senator Irving because that's exactly the line of questioning that I was it kind of red flag what what is this and if you don't mind I'm gonna ask just a few more questions to go along with that because it it it is very much needed but I just was curious because it's
just a referral so clarify that there's no that they're not actually providing the services it's just referring them because this is a company I mean I just kind of struggle because I see that this is a company fromor in Los Angeles and so are these people that have boots on the ground in Arkansas because I don't know how a company in Los Angeles can find services for our students here in Arkansas. Yes they do
Speaker 199
57:20
have people here in Arkansas that are working with our school districts to set that up. we
Speaker 191
57:28
have an RFQ that we did last year we didn't get finished with it to work on the telehealth s the tele mental healthal side of it to have people in Arkansas that if a student is identified as needing mental health and mental telehealth is the best avenue for them that this part this RP would cover that but for right now yes this is the first step of just working with the districts to identify students that may need some mental health and what is the best one is because it may be a student that needs
inperson mental health and that that impersonal health would be an Arkansas provider so that's one of the things that we are making
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
58:07
sure that they are Arkans as providers that are providing this service so the so they might link them to an online provider
and is that online provider fromor or some other place it would always be inarkansas provider OK but this company is not providing they're just helping therapy
they're just trying to help make the
Speaker 191
58:30
connection and make sure that the student is getting that service because a lot of time when you see with a a referral the student doesn't go or they missed the appointment or whatever and then they they something happens they get back put back in the queue this this company is gonna make sure that that student does get that meeting or does can make that connection instead of it just keep going on
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
58:51
and on and never happening is are some of those services if if especially if they're online are
they provided during the school day to kind of ensure that the student receives
it as opposed to going home and maybe
Speaker 191
59:04
not getting it at home? Is that don't don't don't know I'd have to get that information on it but I know that we have been collecting
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
59:12
that information from Ka Soisson and we can send that out OK and then just help me understand so it totalauthorized said $1 million total after review $2 million and then it says total projected7 million so that's a huge jump. so just help me understand some of those numbers is it $7 million actually it's
Speaker 191
59:28
a million dollars a year for seven years. OK.
so it's just that's is just renewing for a new year a million dollars so they can only go up to a million dollars but it's a seven year contract so at the end of the contract it would be a seven year just a
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
59:44
million dollars a year annually though and it's available to every school district in the state charter schools as well
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
59:53
ok thank you all right let me ask you a few follow up questions because we used to do mental health services in schools for school-based counseling did any Arkansas providers bid on this?
Speaker 191
1:00:06
don't recall but could I don't think so I'd have to go back and check and look to make for sure though I I don't I don't remember at this point right now I'd
Speaker 189
1:00:14
have to see who who all bid on it. I don't think there were
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:00:18
two that did but I don't, I need to get that I can tell you. OK yeah if you don't mind get that I'm not gonna hold it but if you don't mind get it to me cause I know there are there are mental health firms now they're providing services
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:00:30
on school for schoolbased mental health and I'm just trying to understand the overlap that may occur between what this is intended to
achieve and what currently is being offered because I know there's also there's a big pushback as far as kids being taken out of class, especially core classes and the scheduling of the time that they could be seen by a therapist or a case manager during the regular school hours and you have to shift that to afterwards if you got any insight on that no I I know that we've been
Speaker 191
1:00:56
collecting information on that and I'm not that's why I don't know but I can get that to see when they're doing it and see how it's being scheduled. I know we had that I just don't have that information. OK and so the primary
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:01:09
responsibility of this firm is what is to make sure that a student that has been identified for needing services is getting those services and that's not currently being done through the school counselor or the school like like you said earlier sometimes they they
Speaker 191
1:01:25
will go through that and get a meeting set up and get a student identified as needing services but wherever that connection may not happen or it might get just the times never work up or whatever but this this company is going to make sure that once that student is
identified for needing services that they are getting the help they need they're gonna fall along with that student they're gonna follow back up with the student parents gonna follow up along with this the school to make sure
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:01:52
that that that that they are getting them the help I guess where I'm struggling is because that should be the job
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:01:57
of the therapists and the case manager that are already providing services it and
Speaker 191
1:02:02
it should be but I think that you're seeing so many that are identified or are me so many needs are out there that a lot of time there's so much going on that we want to make sure that
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:02:11
those that nobody's falling through the cracks so the mental health industry in Arkansas today that's providing services to schools did they show any resistance to this? were they partners in
Speaker 189
1:02:23
the decision? these people aren't the ones that are going to be doing any of the services
Speaker 191
1:02:28
they're just going to be following up to offer their assistance to make sure that those services are being provided Caolis is is is not gonna be it does not provide the services so it's still your Arkansasbas providers still doing the services for those students that need it
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:02:43
OK one last question are they going to have are they going to have a presence on the school campuses or how are they going to interact with the
Speaker 191
1:02:51
schools they are they will interact with the schools through their counselors through their superintendents through through that what the process is already set up with the school within the school districts and offer any assistance that they may need ali one last question then
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:03:04
how are they gonna how are they going to make the decision as to which mental health firm to refer to so it doesn't become picking winners and losers or they're
going to have a a rotation system or is that
two down in the weeds? Yeah, I'd I'd have to get that for you. I don't know but I can I can definitely get that with
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:03:22
our with our services tell you what I'm gonna do I want to hold this one till tomorrow and let it come out of JbC tomorrow like we've done before Can I do that? yeah or'm not I'm not gonna just want to get a few answers a few questions I was the parent pics the parent pics yes ok I'll tell you what
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:03:37
I won't hold it we'll let it go out but we'll have because this is the beginning of this this is the
Speaker 189
1:03:44
first million dollars being put toward this is that correct this we started late last year this is a renewal to start the the next year so it'd be the this is be the second year OK tell you
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:03:54
what I want to hold it but I'm gonna talk to the chair of Ed and and we'll do some follow up through committee that way
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:03:59
OK if Courtney's in here she probably can come up here and offer a little more on it let me let me just do offline because
we're pushing the 11 o'clock or whatever time that says but I'll I'll push afterwards and we need to bring it
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:04:11
up tomorrow and JBC will bring it up tomorrow. OK.
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:04:15
all right any other questions from any other members? OK we're on
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:04:25
M4 right and we're going to hold M484presentative Richardson that should get his answers to his questions tomorrow and it can clear out JbC right? is that right? OK otherwise any questions on any other items on M4 all right with that objection
other than M48 being held, these will be reviewed all right
William Parrish
Unverified
1:04:56
and we're on tom5 thank you Mr Chair we're in the M5 M5 or instate contractsm5 is in the top right hand corner. this is page 23 of the unpacket.umber one is AU with Cbon Strategic Consulting it's an original contract to provide external communications and Pr strategy this is the new services ratification in M1 was for services that were already rendered.umber 2 is the state
insurance department with Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care it's an amended contract to manage a toll-free hotline in the marketplace from thefoffordable Care Act Number3 is the division ofunity Correction with covenantrecovery Inc it's an amended contract to provide comprehensive communitybased treatment services next page is page 24 number four is the department of Education inillalue it's in a mini contract that updates and provides maintenance of the software program.umber5 DhSbhC
pinnacle Point Hospital in a minute contract is to continue comprehensive resident treatment services for youth Next page is page 25 number6 DHS with collaborative counseling associates this is the mini contract to continue home studies for foster adoptive interstate compact of on placement of children and court ordered families Next page is page 26 of item number7. This is DhShlh consultants it's inended contract to continue adoption summaries.umber 8 is theS HLH
consultants again this is the mini contract to continue the agreement for homeme studies for foster adoptive interstate compacts on placement their children and court ordered families Next page is page 27 item number 9 DHS Washtall Children's Center. this is the mini contract for emergency emergency shelter servicesumber 10 DhS Pineneyridge Treatment Center it's an mini contract to continue sexual rehabilit rehabilitative comprehensive redial treatment services for youth
page 28 item number 11 DHS the ridgeway it's a mini contract to continue comprehensive residential treatment services for youth number 1el DHS UHs of Springwood'slC's the mini contract for comprehensive residential treatment services for youth. next page is page 29, item number 13 DhS United Methodist Beha behaviorvioral Health. This is another amended contract for a comprehensive residential treatment services. N next page is page30, item 14 DhS with interface un s interface security
systems it's an amended contract for ongoing maintenance and monitoring of the security alarm system.umber 15 is DHS with A therapy and and consultative it's in a minute contract for physical therapy services at the Kaway Human Development Center Next page is page31, number 16 DhS Kare connolly. this is an original contract to for physical therapy services for the southeast Arkansas Human Development Center number 17 DhS with KennethRaines it's an amended contract for respiratory therapy at conway Human
Development Center number 18 DhS with Wilson Neury. This an aend contract for neurology services at Conway Human Development Center. Next page is page32 number 19dhSarson with Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care. this is an original contract it's also a sole source procurement the green justification form at the bottom of the packet explains that this is to establish a special short term bridge contract to continue Medicaid inspections of care vs.umber 20 is with the ardots forridian Investments
advisors. this is for the retirement system Next page page33, item number 21 again ardotosborn Carrero and associates this is for it's an amended contract for actuarial servicesumber 22 S aUtech with strictly business lawn care it's an original contract for landscaping servicesumber 23 University of Arkansas with AAd3 event Productions and this is an original contract for event production services at U ofA Fafayetteville's spring and fall commencement ceremonies.umber 24 has been
pulled by agency requests so that's not for consideration. Number 25 is for University of Arkansas sone and Ward inc. it's an original contract to support paid digital marketing as chair that is the end of M5 instate contracts. right uhs representative painter who would
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:09:05
you like? department of correctionss please to the table
Speaker 216
1:09:30
Name and title for a record Jim Chee director of division of community correction Chad Brown CFO
Representative Stetson Painter
Unverified
1:09:56
department of correctionss. Did you thank you Mr chairir. thank you gentlemen. just a couple of questions contract pay to
date is a little over a million dollars we're doing an amendment for for another half a million to finish a year
what since we're spending that kind of money can you kind of go into detail the success rate and the results of that no sir I don't
Speaker 215
1:10:15
have those numbers with me I can get you those numbers as far as recidivism rate on the center right I
Representative Stetson Painter
Unverified
1:10:21
mean it's it's saying to increase funding for one more year and I'm just thinking you know we've spent over a million dollars we're now asking for another half a million dollars.
it would be nice to know the results of that kind of money that we're spending since we're tightening down on certain things want to make sure that if we're spending taxpayer money we're getting the results that we want and so if you can get those to me I'd greatly appreciate it. I don't really necessarily want hold it but if that's something you can get
Speaker 227
1:10:50
me today I would greatly appreciate it but
Speaker 228
1:10:52
not all'll hold. yes sir we'll we'll get you those numbers today. OK great thank you thank you Mrir. right and uhpresentative Gramlich
Speaker 229
1:11:02
thank you I do have a couple of questions on the same thing mine are more just purely informative for me. Is this the only commun community corrections facility we have or do we have more they're just already being more of a permanent
Speaker 215
1:11:13
funding source. No sir we have more of these re actually this is not this is a reentry center so we have them located around the state I think we have4 that we currently contract with we have some for females in Clarksville actually they're doing one in Jones where they're doing a pre audit in Jonesboro. we have one in LittleRock so we have them stationed around I think
there's 205 beds that's available that we currently utilize right now for these offenders
Speaker 230
1:11:36
OK well whatever we can do to get more people out of my jail I appreciate that so thank you very
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:11:44
much all right any other questions for department of corrections? right p re s ent ing rich and
Scott Richardson
Unverified
1:11:54
you're up Thank you Mr Chair I'm looking at number 19 Department of Human Services
Speaker 234
1:12:25
right. name and title for the record please Martina Smith DHS division
Speaker 139
1:12:33
for provider services and quality assurance. and Sarahcunningham
Speaker 140
1:12:37
DHS officef of procurement. go ahead and thank you Mr chairir so I I
Scott Richardson
Unverified
1:12:42
kind of referenced this earlier I I'm very curious to hear sort of the timeline and why we ended up at a point where we're not ready with with a a new process procurement
process for competitive bid on this particular item and having to extend this contract to the tune of what3.4 million so can you
Speaker 234
1:13:05
help me with that so we did begin the process in May of 2025 we completed the delegation of request and submitted it to the office of state procurement in July of 2025 we received notice from the office of state procurement that they wanted to take over
this contract inoctober of2025 and we've been working with them since that date this contract actually did post on March 20th of 2 026 and the bid opening is scheduled for april twenty1st. so you're
Scott Richardson
Unverified
1:13:42
if I understand that what you're stipulating is that the office of procurement state procurement through the transformative services has decided that this is a contract that they want to manage moving forward is that right
Speaker 139
1:13:57
just they they took the solicitation the contract will still be managed by DHS we started requirements gathering internally with our team, our procurement office back in May of 2025 to start developing the replacement solicitation and then transferred that solicitation development to OSP and Martina and her team have been working with them on the competitive RfP that has been posted like she mentioned March 20th and closes on April21st. So
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:14:27
is is the office of state procurement here from an office if you'll come forward please name and title for the record and after
Speaker 243
1:14:48
that you recognize go ahead representative Good morningjessica Patterson, director of the
Scott Richardson
Unverified
1:14:52
office of state procurement Good morning. thanks for being here. So tell me a little bit about what the delay why the
delay in this process obviously the initial requirements were gathered on time ready to move forward with the solicitation for a bid what happened that caused us to have to have a delay
Speaker 243
1:15:11
at this point well when we first took over, I guess let me back up. we started in the
Speaker 246
1:15:16
summer of last year bringing more procurement centrally within the officefice of State Procurement we rolled back our delegation authority to $2 million and so we started the process of taking on more contracts or more the solicitation of more contracts
centrally within the office of state procurement on this contract specifically I think that they had started their requirements gathering but then we had to take those requirements and and work with them to put them within the format that we use. um, I think that that's been an ongoing process I can get you more information on um, on on how that has progressed and any delays that we're that we experienced but that is generally what our process
Speaker 248
1:16:02
has been for many of DHS's contracts. OK so is there currently
Scott Richardson
Unverified
1:16:06
are there currently more contracts like this that are incuue that are gonna have to be bumped to and continue for cello not that I'm aware of so this is the only one that's been impacted in that way I think this is the only one that has
Speaker 243
1:16:16
been impacted in this way all right thank you very much. I appreciate
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:16:23
it thank you Mr Chair you're welcome any other questions for for these folks ok now thank you all very much
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:16:37
let me get our dot up to the table about the retirement
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:16:52
one please. Good morning thank your title for the record
Speaker 251
1:16:59
please Good morning. I'm Robin Smith asher's executive secretary.
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:17:08
question I've got I'm gonna I'm gonna back up a little bit to the contract that was with Casleark Management of Chicago. So I'm going to combine it with what's number 20 on ours with meridium investments I guess the question I have and I'm trying to go back to the days of retirement committee on the on the castle ark it seems like that's a lot of money we're paying them to manage
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:17:41
the the portfolio amm I taking that out of
Speaker 251
1:17:44
context or can you speak to that for a minute Cassark operates more like a chief information officer for us and they do more than just manage investments. They also do asset allocation for the whole portfolio including meridian and Garcia Hamilton. they they coordinate all that. they also train the board. they work on special projects for us, do risk assessment that type of thing.
OK and the same thing for for meridian then meridia is
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:18:17
meridian just operates as a bond manager for us OK, I'll just I'll get off conversation with you offline conversation OK all right thank you appreciate any questions anybody else on anything dealing with5 in state contracts lastst call anybody all right then these will be approved without objection. Billy in there's section in are all the
William Parrish
Unverified
1:18:42
monthly reports if any members have any questions or any specific report we'll be happy to address those questions. sorry
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:18:49
anybody got any questions on any of the reports listed undern1 through 9. I'd like to get Medicaid to the table please. on the trust fund
Speaker 254
1:19:25
morning y'all name and titles for the record please
Speaker 255
1:19:32
MUubank's deputy secretarydhS Andy Morgan Medicaid phys fiscal officer
Speaker 182
1:19:37
and Elizabeth pittman director for division of medicalical
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:19:39
Services. right good morning. I know a lot of conversation around the Medicaid trust fund in the past and special report asked for this and it's on page6 of6 I guess my question is just talk to us about the direction of it given that it's
uh, if I'm reading it right it's down42% if I'm not reading that right, correct me and just the direction that it's going against the obligations that we have and
Speaker 258
1:20:08
just refresh our memory a little bit would you please? Sure thank you for the question. currently we are running at 99% of budget as far as what we've loaded to our annual operating plan. again we can continue to monitor that very closely having weekly meetings if not more frequently.gain we do not
believe that the trust fund will be exhausted in this state fiscal year and we do have $100 million set aside for this year although we do not believe
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:20:36
we'll need to tap that currently OK, so I'm going to run these numbers by you tell me if I'm misreading A and I'm looking at the after nine months of this we started with I around the numbers off we started at491 million. the credits were 286, the debts were495 and that leaves us
with the end al of 283. so for the remainder of this fiscal year you feel confident that we're going to be able to make fulfill our obligations with what we have
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:21:12
through the rest of this year. Yes, that's correct. OK. and what
Speaker 258
1:21:18
about the forecast beyond this year any comments you have about that?gain we're watching that very closely we have not completed our annual operating plan for next year. however, I believe Jim Hudson stated that we would continue to have
Speaker 94
1:21:32
100 million and set aside yeah name and title for a record please sir Jim Metson secretary of DFfa as I shared when
Speaker 93
1:21:53
I presented the the governor's balanced budget you know we're I think we're fine for this year and I think we are fine for this year. We'll finish the fiscal year just fine. I think for you know,
Fy27 we will have to move the $100 million into Medicaid timing that exactly I'm not sure it'll probably be in the first half of the fiscal year we do have a proposed in the governor's balanced budget a 2nd $100 million set aside that we'll have in there to backstop additionally. I don't expect at this time that I had to get moved over. We will have to have a conversation as I've said not only about the income side but the expense side and that's something
Speaker 94
1:22:26
that we can we can have as we get into the next regular session is that 100 million
Speaker 93
1:22:36
captured within this $283 billion it is not it's it's not at it's not atdHS it sets in a restricted reserve account right now so they have to request it and then it has
Speaker 265
1:22:44
to come to you to this body and you release it and move it over
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:22:49
right thank you thanksbody else have any questions all right senator hickey you want to push a button there please?
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
1:23:10
right you should be good to go. Thank you Mr Chair. I don't sit on this committee. Is it OK if I ask a question I know I do this during the regular pier however with the restricted reserve and we're using this and we have the next we say we're gonna put in another I've listened to what senator hammer said so that's really not included in our budget though so you know it's why why do we not if we're pretty sure that this is going to happen keep happening at 100 million a year and I heard what you said. why don't we just put
that in the budget so that it shows up as that expense item. I think as I said we need
Speaker 93
1:23:46
to have a conversation about you know the funding level for medicaid going forward. you know there's a lot of volatility in the balance on Medicaid. The report you have is a snapshot as of the end of March I guess this week the number's in excess of400 million. so there's there is a lot of movement in that. So I don't think we can necessarily pick just one particular week and say that's our snapshot for whether or not you know we need to move additional money in there. I
think we need to be really kind of understanding what is a desired minimum amount that we're going to have in there and if we get consistently below that minimum amount you know look at adding capital to it right ga in
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
1:24:23
appreciate you all and I know that you know it's just just the way it comes here but and I've been asking this stuff and I understand about cyclical but it seems like to me that it's always more than what what we keep saying so if we're gonna have to move that 100 million right at the first of the fiscal year
or what we're saying is is that we're gonna we're gonna fully exhaust all the funds between now and June30th that's in that's is in the balance of that trust fund correct I did not say that well they didn't don't believe that don't believe that at all. OK, well then that's what's confusing to me so what we're saying is we still believe we're going to have a balance but you're just saying that we're gonna move that that restricted reserve money over into their as more of a cushion so you're we're not saying that we're going to exhaust all all of the balance within that trust fund in this fiscal no sir no
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
1:25:14
sir don't don't believe that at all. I think the forecast that Secretary mann has provided at the
Speaker 93
1:25:20
table when she's been here still hold true. I agree with those. I think that when we're talking about having a sustained balance below 200 million. we need to be having a conversation about injecting capital at that point.
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
1:25:34
So and I know that we've continuously asked that what are and I know that's a discussion between the legislative branch and the executive branch but if what what I'm hearing is are we
gonna try to say that we're going to maintain the $200 million because that's always been one of my hangups is that we've not decided at at what the minimum's gonna be so are we saying that that's what it's gonna be the 200'm I'm saying that's the conversation we need
Speaker 93
1:25:58
to keep having because you know 200's relative number you know according to the expenses it it may not be enough if expense s are are surging too much. I think we just have to look at what the the cash burn rate is and the cash burn rate has been significant this year but intentionally so we know that
that money's been spending down that's not been a surprise. We knew, we knew it was going to come down. It had been
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
1:26:21
very very high for a long period of time and I agree with you it's just at some point over the last year and year and a half it's not you ought to blame it's as much us sitting up here also we're gonna have to get that established of of what we're going to keep us at a minimum and like I say whether it's too 200 million or 250 million or 150 million I don't know it's just and I think that that
requires the expertise of not only DF andA but also DHS that I would assume that that needs to come from you all on on what that balance needs to be you know I think we've got a a great working relationship
Speaker 93
1:26:58
with DHS and Secretary mannn and I are talking regularly about where things are at in terms of medicaid but Id I do I really do want to circle back to the the point on the expense side of things. I I don't think any of us want to be in a place where the conversation just about how
we add more money to Medicaid because a lot of states get in trouble on that we need to be talking about what are some things that we can do to
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
1:27:27
control the expense side of things as well and and and I would agree with what you say it but but this is going to be my point to that if if we've spent and are spending300 million dollars more a year out of a trust fund or a restricted reserve fund that's not an RsA and I hate to use the word manipulative. that's a bad word but I don't know what else to say it's not providing an
accurate balanced budget in my opinion because we are we had we have expense items that are not within RSA that really is makes that budget unbalanced from my viewpoint if they're ongoing expenses every year and I know somebody say well we're always can cut here or we can always cut there but if these are ongoing and we're seeing a trend like that it's just we need to get those within RSA so that that is part of the budget yeah I think you know I agree that we ought to we ought
Speaker 93
1:28:19
to cash flow positive that that should be the goal for for these things. I think when you're talking about medical expenses much like with Ebd you know there there is volatility and you doin down sometimes but I would agree there's not a sustained path for multiple years where you're spending down
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
1:28:35
and I don't know what that what that variance is if it should be50 million or if it should be60 million or if it should be30 million I just don't think it
Speaker 281
1:28:43
should be400 million or something of that nature so we just keep me keep talking about it. Thank you Secretaryhudson
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:28:50
thank you Mr Chair for the leeway. you're welcome adding to that the you know just a high levelvel view you correct me if I'm wrong. you know we had stuff if we add stuff legislatively either because we motivated or you know, the administrative branch of you know motivates it that's going to either add or take away cost you know to the to the system. The other thing is whatever the up or down reimbursement
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:29:12
rate is by the feds based on the programs that come. those are all variables that are going to affect that dollar amount in there right
Speaker 93
1:29:21
that's a that's a great point you know Fm map dropped the the rate dropped last year. I mean we're we're living through that right now it's forecast it's going to go up next fall nextoctober so we'll
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:29:32
actually get more federal income you know coming in in the next fiscal year so the the the fluidness of it the the argument's gonna be or the debate's gonna be what's the what's the safe cash balance in there if it's 200 billion given the fluidness of it you know if it's up or down, and that's what you gotta to arrive
Speaker 94
1:29:53
at but your your first point is is really really important and I would just encourage all members to take heed of it you know, every time that we pass a mandated benefit you know for medicaid there's a real worldld cost on that and and it comes straight out of that trust fund and so as we increase the
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:30:09
burden on that we are burning the cash faster refresh my memory I know but as it is right now whenever legislation is passed do we have a fiscal impact to the medicaid budget for what that is that a requirement to be
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
1:30:24
attached to it is isn't itdHS prepares that every time there is one I think, I think there's more
Speaker 93
1:30:29
work that we can do to make sure we have a good structured process on that because there are things that we do like for example with the lottery and with retirement plans that we make sure that we're looking at that stuff early and we're bundling it all together so we have a complete picture of
Speaker 94
1:30:44
the fiscal impact for all the changes I just think there's more toning up we can do in that process. All right.
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:30:48
and then the last question is the the numbers I gave you a while ago are after 9 months. so right now
it just correct me if we're wrong, you got a $283 million balance we've got
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:30:59
three months left in the in the fiscal year so the next three months you think and and you don't know what the final number we're gonna to arrive at but with the bounce that you got in there we ought to be able to get through this next
Speaker 93
1:31:13
three months with that balance in there as I've said you know I think Secretary manns communicated at the table you know,130 plus 130 to150 million you know we'll be in that range, you know we're not going to be at zero we're not going to be below 100
million I think it's it's we are spending down there's no doubt about that but also remember too that expense medical expenses are not evenly distributed over the course of the fiscal year. They they
Speaker 94
1:31:36
bunch at different points in time in the year so some of it
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
1:31:40
could come in after the fact OK sir all right any other questions for these folks
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
1:31:47
right thanks for the healthy debate thank you any ques any other questions on and once you're done right these are no action items
so without any questions on that and with no other business coming for thank y'all for being here we are adjourned
Agenda
A. Call to Order
Items for Approval
B. Various Temporary Appropriation Requests
C. American Rescue Plan Act Appropriation Requests
D. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Appropriation Requests
E. Restricted Reserve Fund Transfer Requests
F. Reallocation of Resources
Items for Review
G. Cash Fund Appropriation Requests
H. Budget Classification Transfer Requests
I. Pay Plan Appropriation Requests
31. Auditor of State – Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys
J. Overtime Appropriation Requests
K. Methods of Finance
L. Discretionary Grants
M. Service Contracts for Legislative Review/RFQ Approvals
Reports
N. Monthly Reports
O. Other Business
P. Adjournment
Documents
Speakers
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
Senator Mark Johnson
Unverified
William Parrish
Unverified
Speaker 21
Speaker 24
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
Speaker 44
Speaker 47
Speaker 51
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
Speaker 67
Chair
Unverified
Speaker 71
Speaker 63
Speaker 93
Speaker 94
Speaker 80
Speaker 102
Speaker 104
Speaker 107
Speaker 70
Speaker 116
Speaker 120
Speaker 123
Scott Richardson
Unverified
Speaker 139
Speaker 142
Speaker 175
Speaker 177
Speaker 182
Speaker 185
Speaker 181
Speaker 189
Speaker 191
Speaker 156
Representative Julie Mayberry
Unverified
Speaker 199
Speaker 216
Representative Stetson Painter
Unverified
Speaker 215
Speaker 227
Speaker 228
Speaker 229
Speaker 230
Speaker 234
Speaker 140
Speaker 243
Speaker 246
Speaker 248
Speaker 251
Speaker 254
Speaker 255
Speaker 258
Speaker 265
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
Speaker 281