Joint Budget Committee

We're calling Joint Budget order. First item on the agenda is the personnel report. It would if you light up. In your. Recognized give the person a report thank you Mr chairman and colleagues the personnel committee met Tuesday morning. The twenty eighth again Wednesday evening after the session the mother had to allow you but anyway the adopts a governors loader constitutional officer amendments the member amendments listed in one through twelve on the report. We also reviewed the regular business items listed as numbers thirteen through sixteen on the report of the glad to answer any questions but I'm moved for the adoption of the report it's proper to administer do we have any questions for representative will be. We have a motion and a second any discussion on the report all in favor say aye. Any opposed board's adopted members we have three bills ready to come out of that report Mr Anderson. Thank you Mr chairman in the personal report item one Senate bill ten sixty two treasure state. The motion do pass as amended I have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye opposed transaction. A item to house bill eleven thirty five Office of Attorney General. All secretary general this is be House bill eleven thirty five need a motion do pass as amended. I have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye. Any opposed Sanders the last one in the personal report is item three Senate bill sixteen this order state Senate bill sixteen any questions. I have a motion do pass as amended and a second. Any discussion all in favor say aye opposed. All right we're going to go to the peer report. Centreboard if you'll a go you're recognized thank you Mr chair the fear subcommittee met yesterday March twenty ninth subcommittee received reports reviewed request and approved the following items various temporary appropriation American rescue plan act appropriation infrastructure act appropriation a reallocation of resources in an appropriation transfer I move adoption of the report. Okay I have a motion to adopt the reported a second any discussion on it. All in favor say aye opposed report is adopted members we're going to see packet vanishing you're recognized thank you Mr chairman I don't see one on page one this is Senate bill two eighty six by Senator Flippo representative Jean it's DFA disbursing officer for pregnancy help organization grants okay members this is the million dollars for the one time money going to the pregnancy centers many questions. We need to do pass have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye opposed Granderson thank you Mr chairman one item C. two this is on page five this is an amendment by Senator Tucker Senate bill number nine public defender commission this is for annual law licensing fees this is eighteen thousand dollars payable to the state center services. Senator Tucker if you go the table you've got the next two. Identify yourself. And you can explain your amendment. Thank you thank you Mr chair both of the next two are really very similar so I'm just going to kind of present both about the same time I also just want to say for the record this was not a request from you the public defenders or prosecuting attorneys this was just something that came to my attention that I want to address because it was the wrong I wanted to write but I became aware of a a full time public defender in Arkansas who had right personal check for his annual license fee I just seems wrong to me we have a full time state employee who has to pay the state to work for the state and that's an expense that ought to be covered by the state in my opinion again just a full time public defender who wrote a personal check for his annual license fee for two hundred dollars when I became aware that I visit with Mr McMahon and Mr perish and ask them to survey their full time prosecutors and public defenders throughout the state to ask how many of them that this was the case for Mr McMahon said by March the elected prosecutors pay for their law license fees for the full time W. prosecution and some cases are part timers out of funds they already have and there are a variety of sources that that for funding that they get hi check money as one example all that money is really supposed to you be used for the administration of justice in the prosecution of crimes and they're taking some of that money to cover the law license fees for their full time prosecutor is and I'm confident that they would rather spend that money on the administration of justice and the and the prosecution of crimes on the public defender side about two thirds of the full time public defenders in Arkansas their law license fees were covered by the county's in which they work and then about a third these folks were just having to pay out of pocket and so the the case I heard about was one of these. Who's in the thirty counties where they have to pay out of pocket I'm confident counties don't want to pay the state for a full time state employees to work for the state and so these two amendments are just to cover the two hundred dollar annual license fee for full time prosecuting attorneys and public defenders on its only full time so I ask Mr McMahon. After the number but full time positions that they've got it's two hundred and three so the amendment for the prosecutors is forty thousand six hundred dollars two hundred dollars per person and I ask Mister Paris for the same number for the public defenders the numbers ninety so the amendment for the public defender's is eighteen thousand dollars two hundred dollars per full time employee that's really it again it just seems to me like that the state should be covering. The funds for someone to a full time state employee to work for the state obviously the law license is a necessary component for these folks to do their job so that's really I'd be happy second we have any questions for Senator Tucker. Senator Pat thank you got a question thank you and I appreciate what you're trying to sounds like I'll support it for sure. In the future can we do this by somehow going into the license law and making that cost zero so that they don't pay federal income tax on this two hundred dollars and state income tax because now it's compensation if we if we're paying their fee for so I'll tell you senator I I filed a bill does this obviously applies not only to the lawyers who are public defenders and prosecutors but also to lawyers that work in the highway department or DHS or whatever the case might be other state employees realized in applies not only lawyers either doctors nurses engineers so what I I I actually I filed a bill that said if you're a full time state employee then you don't have than the this fee is wait I just filed it the other day there are some wide ranging impacts for that that we don't really have time to study in this legislative session my plan is to put that in the interim study I'm going to work with Mister Robinson over the course of the interim period to communicate with the agencies and commissions about the impacts it would have on there agencies and commissions so that's my plan moving forward even without legislation though I don't think we can do it for lawyers because it would be a separation of powers issue with I don't think we can tell a see they're not allowed to charge two hundred dollars for a law license fee so I think even if everything with that bill goes according to plan the fleshy down we pass it next session we're still going to have to pay the low license fees because of the separation of powers issue that's at least that's my analysis at this point thank you thank you Mr. Any other questions. We have a motion to pass in the second. On the amendment. Any discussion all in favor say aye. Any opposed you go ahead and do. Of Senate bill seventeen so the first one was for the public vendors this one's for prosecutors appreciate a good vote okay. Motion do pass on the amendment second any discussion all in favor say aye any opposed. Regulation both your amendments have been adopted. All right of we're going to see for Mr Anderson. Thank you Mr chairman I don't see force on page thirteen this is amended Senate bill one twenty three one two three universe of Arkansas medical sciences it as an appropriation. If any questions. Motion I have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye any opposed. Recession we're going to. Some five yes Sir Adams C. five is on page nineteen this amendment by senator Gilmore Senate bill forty five partminer corrections arts Arkansas syncing Commission this as a hundred thousand dollars payable at a miscellaneous agencies fund this is part of the private protect Arkansas act. Share your more you recognize yourself and explain what you doing your man. Thank you Mister senator Gilmore Senate district one this amendment is for the sentencing commission as a result of the protect Arkansas actors going to be much needed education as relates to our prosecutors and other functions as relates the duties of the sentencing commission and so we're just increasing that appropriation with this amendment. We have any questions. We have a motion on the amendment I have a motion and all might give me. I do see you back there that senator flowers. You're recognized. Yeah. Vote on. Thank you you're recognized Senator Gilmore. The prosecutors not already have Continuing legal education paid for under their own budgets. I think the prosecutors do for continuing legal education yes under which that would miss come under that I don't believe so this would be as it relates to the required functions and duties necessary to implement the project Arkansas act I'm happy to get the director the syncing Commissioner the table if you have additional questions well and I think the the prosecutors Coordinator of whatever that man is back there he ought to be able to say. When I served as a deputy prosecuting attorney. I mean the whole purpose of going to those of continuing legal education for the prosecutors was to bring us up to date on changes in the law. So why wouldn't that fall under their why would we need to put more money. Just for this. Okay Senator if if I ma'am let me get this Tony Robinson's a commission to the table well Mister chair and also like to hear from Mr McMahon. Both of a con for. We would send it. Mid. We're talking about years to forget this is for public awareness discussion on the active roster so should within and changes to sentencing overall strategy just just so everyone's clear let's allow them to. Speaking. Want to. A good morning Tony Ryall director of the sentencing commission there's a couple provisions enabling legislation where we provide training to not only prosecutors but public defenders and judges I've because world general revenue we've traditionally always provided that free of charge and it's of course the intention to continue to do that another provision but the trouble would go to is that there is some pretty serious implementation S. Meeks yes if these of legislators would get out from in front of me yeah excuse me the senator JMPD. I can't hear over there talking. Thank you. Okay so and the sentencing commission has had for a statutory duty for and since inception I believe in nineteen ninety four a statutory requirement to provide training to judges prosecutors and public defenders on just general sentencing issues so that will obviously be expanded to to the pretty significant changes and release eligibility law in addition the sentencing commission is gonna be required to do I have a pretty meaningful and revision of the guidelines they're gonna have to review statutory as sentencing ranges and that money would go towards that and I think that's pretty much covers everything what what the follow up or do you just say it. DO their offices provide any kind of a. Appropriation of a budget line item for. This. Education. all of Mr McMahon speaks specifically to that but I'll say that I know what prosecutors two is much more inclusive than just sentencing law so I think that potentially a lot of the appropriation and funding that goes towards their training might go towards evidentiary issues things like that that I'm not necessarily the expert on so we do just provide that specific piece of the training. Senator Bob McMahon prosecutor coordinator we do have money in our budget that provides training for prosecutors and deputies throughout the state and I think what what you said is actually correct yes we train on everything the specific training that this bill I believe talks better this meant we talk about is specifically provided by the sentencing commission are prosecutors and deputies to attend that separately from those conferences that are provided by my office we do we would actually covers some of this but they're the experts on this so we would encourage our prosecutors as we always do and deputies to attend the extra Sealy that's offered by the sentencing commission so we we both work together to train our prosecutors in these areas me on everything generally and the sentencing commission you extra specifically on their issues with it don't have extra money in the budget in your budgets for prosecutors training and education. Not not in not in my budget know we have a limited amount of money that allows us to provide the two annual trainings a year that we do prosecutors may have specific money in their budgets funded by the counties to allow them to go to additional training but we encourage them to come to ours and as well as the training offered by the since the commission. What is there anyway this is where we can find out what the counties might be contributing. We'll get the staff to get you that information Senator thank you. Got that all right. You don senator. Thank you of who's in C. thirty four. The baby you're recognized just a quick question for senator Gilmore the the appropriation request is more for the sentencing commission to go out and and have training to cover the expenses there is that correct to to train these the folks in the state on the implementation and and the impact of the act yes yes representive as I stated earlier so they can go out and do these trainings that are necessary thank you represent thank you. All right you closed. All right have a motion on this amendment I have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye any opposed member members this bill is ready to go out do pass as amended on the motion I have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye any opposed transaction item six. What's going personnel yes Sir Adams six does have position changes it's on page twenty three okay house bill twelve thirty one member will go personnel. Of. Riveted Johnson here. You make on this great. Wardlaw just left so thank you thank you Mr chairman let's go to nine just their Dismang and left. Two million nine. Number nine which prescription seven eight for now we're on page thirty seven this is C. nine this is an amendment by Senator Dismang to Senate bill fifteen gamefish Commission this allows them to receive funds as authorized by law in their fund representative Johnson we're going to go to dismaying that come to you just to stay right there stay right there. No move. All right. It it just allows them to have the authority to spend if funds are made available. Any questions. Motion to approve. I have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye any opposed we're going back to seven. Okay let's go back Senate bill fifteen is ready the motion do pass as amended we have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye any opposed now we'll go number seven mismanaged yes Sir thank you that takes us back to page thirty one item C. seven is amended to Senate bill thirty one. It's an appropriation for the department of health licensing psychology board this is for scholarship programs people at a cash funds four hundred fifty thousand there's no general revenue hit represent Johnson you're recognized by your moment thank you Mr chair committee members what we're trying to do with this money is established a scholarship program for neuropsychology technicians so this is worked on with the psychology board would start out with an idea to try to create a scholarship program for behavioral health specialists across the board that that was a little broad because of all the different boards would have to be involved in ministry that program the psychology board has some excess funding in their fund already and they're willing to try to move some that fund over for scholarship programs of this is money to fund a bill this was filed that was worked on with the psychology board supported by the College Board and approved by the department of health and I'll be happy to answer any questions we have a question for representative Johnson. Seeing none motion do pass on the amendment we have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye. Those registration members and on the thank you Mr all right we're going to C. eight resented Wardlaw. We'll pass over. Go to a seat in senator Patty if you will disable your got the next two. Transaction. Thank you Mr chairman us we're on page forty one now it's C. ten this is a Senate bill three thirty one by Senator Betty this is part of education for after school and summer program grants this is payable out of cash funds it is not a head general revenues. Senate bill you're recognized. Thank you Mister senator jim Petty district twenty nine members this is appropriations only I will five for the funding another day but just briefly and and this is applicable to both nine ten and eleven this is for funding after school educational programs through organizations that have established programs as well as successful track records without comes and again just an appropriation will fight for the money another day any questions for the senator. The motion do pass in a second any discussion all in favor say aye. Those sent to you would you want a quick information on yes Sir quick expulsion one page forty three it's items C. eleven Senate bill three thirty two this is for grants for boys and girls clubs part of education. Which senator. Chairman same same story same programs successful outcomes with that demonstrated results okay any questions I have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye opposed. Congratulations Sir for your member to past we're going to go back to item eight. Riveted Wardlaw gets able recognize yourself and. Explain your amendment. Members on page thirty five OC. Thank you Mr Jeff Wardlaw district ninety four members C. eight Few years ago we passed one bill and it put a a fee in there that was collection to build a wine museum it never generated enough money for the wine museum when the bill came across your budget hearings they had pulled money from the tourism tax to the tune about five million dollars to go and build that museum what that money's always been going back to tourism and not to a wine museum so what this does is backs that back out and lets them generate their own money to their wine C. and when they generate enough money they'll be able to build their wine museum but we're not going to supplement it with funds that are already being used for tourism in Arkansas and that's all it does be happy to answer any questions any questions for representative Wardlaw. What emotion motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye any oppose graduations represent your members adopted okay members we're going to. Okay that bill is ready. All right. We got a motion to pass Senate bill two thirty nine do pass as amended I have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye opposed now we're going down to Adam twelve Mister Anders. Thank you Mr chairman that takes the page forty five in C. packet of this is the uniformed class compensation act that affects positions we'll send that to personnel subcommittee. Mr Anderson thank you Mr chairman that takes us to page eighty seven this is item C. thirteen this is a bill by Senator Mark Johnson Senate bill three thirty six part of health Arkansas state physical therapy this is for scholarships program payable at a cash funds for two hundred thousand dollars this is not a hit on general revenue senator Josh you're recognized self explain your amendment thank you ms senator bill skews me thank you Mr chairman of Mark Johnson Senate district seventeen up this is the bill that appropriate from the cash funds of the physical therapy board to set up a scholarship program more of a pilot program with two hundred thousand dollars to try to get to more PT's out there especially the served areas that are currently under Sir again there's no J. G. R. procreation for this is a strictly from that the cash funds from the fees collected by the physical therapy or I'll be I'll try to answer questions but we also have Mr MacGill more if we need some information from the health department but I appreciate a good vote. Do we have any questions for senator Johnson. I have a motion to adopt. Motion read do pass a second any discussion all in favor say aye opposed regulations are debating bill share thank you. All right of this. Number fourteen. The seeds Senator here to run it so we'll go to item fifteen transaction thank you Mr chairman the Texas page ninety three C. fifteen this is amended by representative Bentley house bill ten ninety six as David disbursing officer of this is for the drug task force or two point five million. If I were speak on this. Yeah. You want to speak on it you don't have to go with the. Any questions. The same nine I have a motion to adopt a second any discussion all in favor say aye opposed go to Adam sixteen. Thank you Mr chairman that takes us to page ninety seven this is an amendment. Two Senate bill thirty three division of workforce services by representative McGrew This Is grants to literacy council for three hundred thirty thousand dollars funded out of a miscellaneous agency. I think we talked about the literacy council this this does have the funding now any questions on this I have a motion I have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye. Any opposed I think that bill ready and it made a motion do pass as amended Senate bill thirty three have motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye opposed transmitters ward sixteen no one seventeen. Yes Sir this is by representative affiant item C. seventeen is amended house bill ten ninety six for the Morgan Nick foundation for four hundred thousand dollars payable how to the miscellaneous agencies fund generated. Senate bill if you're recognized self spying Amendment. Senator jim Petty edition twenty nine Mr Sharlene. Representative fight I was not able to be here today she asked me to speak on this this is an appropriation only again looking to have the fight for the funds at another date that Morgan Nick foundation does a great job with a lot of uh causes for missing children and so I would appreciate a good vote okay any questions for senator Betty. We have a motion to adopt and a second any discussion all in favor say aye opposed graduation Senator you're dropping your moment. All right of members of we will pass over eighteen it does have it G. R. hit that we were not aware of so. We'll pass over that today and then we got out of nineteen of. We don't what we're only just this is help to pay the police officers that didn't get paid the last time it was a group of about the university's everything at this is what this does a we've got the money already set aside that we had from the from the previous year any questions. Within a motion on this amendment. I have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye opposed all right we're skipping over governor's letters not ready on Adam D. and then now we're going to the H. package which would be the House bills. Mistretta recognized yes Sir on page one house bill ten seventy two this is a bank department is ready. Ten seventy two ready back parliament have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye any oppose the transfer on page six house bill eleven oh five election commissioners board as bill eleven oh five I have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye any oppose the transfer Page seven house bill eleven eighteen DHS secretary's office eleven eighteen have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye opposed the transient still on page seven house bill eleven twenty DHS provider services and quality assurance eleven twenty have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye opposed. Mr chairman the last one is on page eighteen in the House packet eighteen on your house packet that's in house bill twelve sixty nine UAMS this is not their operations this is our bio science institute operating twelve sixty nine biosciences have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye opposed we're going to the Senate back. Thank you Mr chairman Senate bill twenty Department of Health tobacco settlement commission on page two Senate bill twenty I have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye opposed expansion on page three Senate bill thirty inspector general department. Senate bill thirty have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye opposed transaction thanks is to page five Senate bill thirty two this is part of Commerce farmer of Commerce Senate bill thirty two have a motion and a second any discussion. All in favor say aye opposed Mr Anderson on page six this is the vision workforce services it Senate bill thirty three Senate bill thirty three have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye opposed for granted the last one Mr chairman's on page nine Senate bill fifty five DHS children family services last one Senate bill fifty five motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye. Any opposed. Thank you members we got some announcements we'll be back in here to the morning at nine AM but also to use the morning at eight special language will meet in committee room be. And on Tuesday personnel will meet upon adjournment of both chambers. Wednesday will have an of the Joint Budget and also once planned for next Thursday members if you have holds. You need to release some or we will vote announcmenet next week to get out of here so if you've got a problem take care of it if you don't let it go. All right we are adjourned.