ALC-PEER

I will call this meeting to order chair sees a quorum. The first item is we need to we have a supplemental agenda do I have a motion to take up the supplemental agenda. I have a motion do I have a second. I have a second this is a we'll go ahead is there any discussion on this motion. of. Senator Dismang you're recognized thank you hi and managed care members we have said in this committee over and over and over again to stop bringing supplemental items to this committee. All this been a part of it there's very little discussion there's no public notice we have a thirty million dollar proposal and then and and other program proposal here in this. I mean. At some point enough's enough. And again some in that it just on the not not talking about the the items in particular or their merits or not their merits but we're at the end of the year. We can bring these items back up when we come in in January and have a thorough rifle debate with public input. And in a full discussion and so with that I'd ask that you vote against the motion to suspend which by the way takes two thirds. Add to add this to the counter thank you. Senator when you're recognized I'm gonna agree with Senator Dismang. Based on the comments he made ACT one hundred percent full agreement. We need to be intentional about what we're doing we need to understand. The needs across the entire state of Arkansas. And when we're peace mailing this together. It looks very. And. It just doesn't look right and it looks like it's. Because of influence or whatever I'm not quite sure what that is but you know there's a difference between need I know for a fact there are entities in the State of Arkansas that do you need that and Matt eligibility that are not on this list. I have no idea why there's been no communication to us there's been no communication back to me as a senator who represents a portion of the state of Arkansas when I've been asked from my constituents about different things I don't see them on this list I don't think that's right I don't think that's the way we're supposed to be doing business here. That's not appropriate and it's not intentional and it's not for me good stewardship of taxpayers dollars when you are. Bringing things before us that our peace meals that are not intentional about what we're trying to accomplish as the state of Arkansas with these funds we have set this over and over and over again there is no plan there is no intentionality about it there are no goals so what we're trying to meet there is no accountability whether this is needed or not it's not fully vetted there's no public notice it is short notice let's slam it through and it's just inappropriate it's not good stewardship of taxpayers dollars when you do it this way so I will be in no. I'm seeing no other discussion will go to a vote as to whether or not to adopt the supplemental agenda all in favor aye. All opposed nay. I say the nose have it. It is not adopted. DO I say three hands. I only see two okay three hands please call the roll. Yes all board. Start with the House Lane Jean. Representive Lane Jean. Representative Gary Deffenbaugh. Representative Gary Deffenbaugh. Not here represent the football going to making the representative Megan Godfrey. The representative Ken Bragg. President Reagan I. Representative Charlene Fite. Selfies I. Representative Ken Ferguson hi. Ferguson's I represented Vaught. Personable as I. Representative Jeff Wardlaw. President will as I. Representative Dotson. President Dotson is now. The to Senate. We have. First is Senator Keith Ingram. Senator Larry Teague. Senator Linda Chesterfield. Not hearing center Chesterfield moving to her alternate Senator Clarke Tucker. Senator bill sample. Not he's here sample of into all state senator Ben Gilmore. Senator Ronald Caldwell. Sir callers I. Senator Jimmy Hickey junior. Senator Hickey is I. Senator Scott Flippo. Sensibles NO. Senator Evan. Centerman is no. Senator Rice. Senate races now. All right members two thirds of the quorum was reached in there for the supplemental agenda has been adopted. All right we'll go ahead it starts with item be the various temporary appropriation requests. Thank you madam chair in section B. these are very separate corporation requests the first item is B. one a letter from southern Arkansas university tech this is a request for four hundred eighty two thousand in appropriation this is to construct the burned building to be located on the campus of the Arkansas fire training academy. Next item B. two is a letter from department correction division of correction it's for one million it's been at thirty. This is the cover the purchase of capital equipment that includes replaced skews me replacement of equipment and mobile homes. Nicks I don't beat three is a letter from the parsonage towards on the Division of heritage this is for three hundred thousand spinning the wording is to allow the natural heritage commission to acquire land under a land and water conservation grant the lady knows the natural gas revenue which has exceeded expectations will also be utilized under the next two items on the regular agenda or in a separate packet marks be held those are items we held over from previous meetings and at this time T. V. as requested we pass over those items today. All right thank you members are there any questions on items B. one three three. All right seeing none not entertain a motion to pass those items. Right I've got a motion and a second straight discussion all right all in favor aye. Opposed nay moshing carries will move to item C.. Thank you madam chair section see these are the American rescue plan request the first two requests are from agencies or institutions that received a R. P. funds directly from the federal Department the first one is C. one on page two this is south Arkansas community college requests for three hundred eighty thousand and appropriations spending RP funds this is to provide direct grants to students for emergency relief support information technology and campus security with wifi access points in additional security cameras and recover lost revenue related to decrease in Roman as a result the pandemic next item is on page six. One page six is a request from DHS division of child care it's for three point seven million this is to encourage food banks to purchase food from local socially disadvantaged farmers and producers. All right members that's all of the direct federal awards are there any questions on the direct federal awards Adam see one or two. All right seeing none not entertain a motion to approve these items got a motion and a second is there any discussion. All right seeing none all in favor aye. Opposed nay moshing carries. Will move on to item C. three. Thank you madam chair the next three items or awards by the Arkansas A. R. P. steering committee the first ones on page eight so on page eighty C. three this is the part of commerce Economic Development Commission the request in the gym is for a hundred and fifty eight million appropriation this is for the Arkansas rule connect grant program the funds broadband infrastructure projects in unserved or underserved areas throughout the state additional information for this request was submitted late last week and it was distributed to the committee Thursday evening this this information is included in your in your packets the separate attachment that's behind the R. P. requests as Marcy three additional info. Since Thursday the department has received more feedback and an additional additional packet was put on your desk this morning the the list on Thursdays for twenty projects at a hundred thirty five million The New list that you receive this warning should be on your desk is for fourteen projects at ninety three point nine million there are still maps reach project that provide they show the number of households impacted in the grant cost per household that C. three removed the C. for this on page seventeen. Page seventeen C. for this is the administrate Office of initiative also the quarters for twenty million an appropriation is to build a modern cord management system according to the request a patchwork of legacy systems are currently in use and the technologies underlying the systems have reached their limit the next item is on page twenty seven. On page twenty seven is C. five DF aids person officer this is for nine point nine million spending thirty this is for two related request the first is to restore victims of crime act grant award recipients to the level of disbursements for funding made in two thousand nineteen to two thousand twenty this is a two year plan and until the federal voca fix act can remedy the shortfalls is four point two million for this year the second question is a replacement request they reduces the award to women and children first in September DFA made a request for almost nine point six million to send funds to women and children first to construct a multipurpose community facility that request was held by peer and by L. C. and has remained on hold each month since this replace request reduces the amount to be awarded from nine point six million to five point seven million discussion in the earlier meeting centered on other sources of funding for the construction of a construction of the facility and whether those funds would go to operations as opposed to construction on page twenty nine a breakdown shows that a capital campaign a donation from the attorney general's office and a matching Wingate grant totals five point five million adding the steering committee's reduced award on today's agenda a five point seven million look at the total for construction funds at eleven point two million the current estimate construction ready cost of the facility is eleven point two million. Item six through seventeen on the agenda are items that are held from a previous meeting and so the office requests that we pass over those there are two more questions from the steering committee those are on the supplemental and gender so if you move to the supplemental agenda packet and even begin on page four of that package. So on page four of the separate civil religion the A. one is a request from the chest Division of aging this is for thirty million hundred fifty thousand this is to fund the substance abuse prevention plan according to the request the plan will enhance substance use disorder services through one time expenditures to expand or improve access to existing services or develop an underserved areas it's also to enhance prevention education the educational opportunities improve physical plants in locations where services are offered and mitigate COVID nineteen through initiatives that support greater utilization of substance use disorder services therefore providers across eight regions of the state that are highlighted and receive almost eleven million in funds the remaining nineteen million will be distributed through an application process which geographic coverage prioritize to ensure statewide reach the next items on page ten the civil agenda. One page ten is eight to this is DFA's first officer it's for six point two five billion this is to attract to address the lack of health care in severe county the county has been without an acute care hospital since two thousand eighteen after their former hospital closed due to financial hardship residents approved a one cent sales tax to build a new hospital and so every funds will be used to lease and purchase medical equipment manager those are all the A. R. P. requests. All right thank you so I'd like to do is go through these just one of the time are there any questions on item C. three department of commerce. All right if I could have someone from department of commerce to the table. And then Senator Dismang to be recognized. So we've we've had a request an update to the request in an update to the update of the request this morning. Yeah I mean are we going to pass something out today it's going to need another update what can you walk me through what's happening in a minute my understanding is from feedback what does that mean and please introduce yourself for the record first jim Hudson chief of staff department commerce. Good how we Director say from an office. So we're presenting to the committee today. Fourteen projects totaling. Well over there ninety three million dollars and impacting little short fourteen thousand households the original I guess getting to the the question regional. Transmittal be provided I guess in the last week had an original count of about twenty projects totaling I believe under thirty five million or so total since that time from the end of last week to today we have had. Some providers from the state. Provide some questions to us regarding some of the projects I think. You know considering the fact that is the first time that state of Arkansas has run aground specific to broadband that is a competitive grant round includes an objective scoring matrix with several different criteria I think it's. Proper for us to questions raised when some of those applications because the we were doing it for the first time it would take a step back and just review them again to ensure that we are providing the committee with one percent accurate information. But we feel confident that fourteen then that we were looking to approve today yes Sir. We're not gonna have any issues they don't need to be rolled back there's no further communications or that or whatever that these fourteen projects that are for you at the moment are all either there was one application for that particular project or there were several applications with the winning application was the lowest cost application for taxpayers so these fourteen that is one of those two criteria either the only one that project or the application winner was in G. the lowest cost the taxpayers so with those fourteen being in that manner comfortable with presented to you this morning. Okay all right thank you what. All right representative ought you're recognized thank you madam chair so I know I. What about the counties that didn't get accepted this time did you explain to them what they're missing what they need to do to bring it back how they can better their application so that maybe they could get approved I'm just wondering about the ones that I mean you alluded to I think you said twenty. Yes ma'am so I can walk through maybe holistically briefly for the committee of the process so when we started the grant round back October first there were forty projects total around the entire state they were put forth for competitive bidding now we received two hundred fifty six million dollars in grant requests for one hundred fifty million dollars available to spend so with that being the case actually if you look awfully projects who received at least one application for thirty six of the forty okay but because we're in a deficit of funding to fund all of them would come up with the proper way that was logical and objective in in rank those projects from one to thirty six because of the ones are received so we did that and then working down for the grant request line ever to hit that one hundred million dollar number and those are the ones that we were presented in the last week of the twenty that we brought forth but again since that time couple questions raised on the states or to take some of this back make sure that it was it was the first time with scoring a competitive bidding in a different way that would not before just wanna be sure of those extra ones that questions were raised so on the ones that were you know missing I don't necessarily think anything was going wrong with the assistance a lack of funding to fund all the ones that were brought to us yeah and just add to that real quickly it's a question of timing at this point any of those counties get funded eventually you know this to be the last time I think we've discussed in previous committee meetings this last time we're bringing to you any projects to be funded through our we're done with that at this point but there is a sniff him out of funding that is coming down the pike from the infrastructure bill and really a matter of a few months and when that becomes available will be funding these projects. Okay so again though but you have reached out to those that does those counties know that that applied the forty that applied that didn't receive money do they know that there's more funding coming and that they should re apply when the time comes or is there a re application or does their application just lay there and wait engine and yes ma'am no we worked hard with our communication efforts within the office in everywhere that I go you know we speak to the fact that we have additional funding coming down from the federal government next year with I to significant one funding in fact so you know we we preach that everywhere that we go and up and I'll make sure that we do a direct communication with those counties that were unfunded this time well since there's NO forty that applied that means there's a great need to obviously signifies today more money into broadband so that's why I'm asking about those counties that were not. Awarded the funding thank you so much madam chair. I representative gene you're recognized thank you madam chair I'm over here. Along the same question I've got I've got a couple of candies that. Did make in that didn't make it of. And I'm who is for state five or who is that. I've never heard them before. One second. Yeah I believe four six five or in a given the facts and correct I believe for state farmer is a subsidiary of one electric cooperatives in the southwestern part of the state I believe okay and the area that that I'm familiar with Columbia County. Of the areas that they were felony and have. No internet no fiber service at all. And again they are pulled down for this go round is that correct. Yeah the Columbia project was one of the six that we took down for today yes Sir. And just for a follow up on that the real I was talking where you're given the first explanation. Explain why was done again yeah so if the Disney get reviewed a little bit further representative gene we suspect the six there we pull down temporarily today just to do more thorough review to make sure the right party was awarded the project we think that'll get resolved in the next couple weeks and we would expect to come back to J. B. C. when session starts to seek approval for those six projects and the question if I can. Of. Is for state part of southwest telephone or walnut hill telephone review member. Walnut. Okay. Those only two small telephone companies I know in that area. It but you don't know which one there tied to yeah again I believe it's it's a subsidiary one the cooperatives I'm not sure exactly which one okay all right okay thank you. All right senator rice you're recognized. Thank you in general so my questions Well I ask about the under underserved areas I know we're looking forward trying to get all of this out as quick as we can. But sometimes what you need to knows and review mehr. Review committee. How much you looking in review mirror to see if what promise got done I know you I know you go well Lynch checked the. The stats what I will call it the get it done but have. How many Ark successful where we put that money such as we've upgraded where they already had. Broadband. But. It's not a very big foot print and we've got a much larger footprint now needs highways that have absolutely nothing in there not that far out of. The population. How much you look in that rearview mirror of. Then to. Put in your future awards that working are you doing any of that. Yes so one of things that will have to do with the infrastructure bill beginning next year when the money starts to flow you know we have to certify to the federal government every single unserved underserved location in the state is connected with fiber right so we know that there is you know tremendous need now areas that you know have nothing right less than twenty five by three or first on the list of priorities of what we have to do then we have to move to phone in the future your say yes Sir okay now we have to move to folks that have something but it's obviously not good enough a technical folks would say somewhere between speeds of twenty five three to one about twenty which means they have something but is not good enough and was be number two on a priority list the last we also have to make sure that all or community anchor institutions across the state have access to these two gig speeds so sort of the the rank order what we have to do moving forward and and and so that's how we do it as soon as little bit like to meet you we got rural water I was seven tenths of a mile from where the quit they quit for two years because a they had the worst need population that had set thanks to close the whales until I could get that pot of federal money because that's the worst people in these used to get the money for and I sit there for two more years hoping I get these ordered family be it but I didn't know if I is this case because sometimes it looks like moneys going to places not needed as bad as where the places are we deal we have to come and I appreciate that thank you Senator Rice that point I think for all the members to know me that the easiest stuff in the cheapest stuff we've largely done at this point and it's it's harder more expensive from here on out. All right scene no other questions thank you appreciate it thank you. Hi are there any questions on items C. for administrative office of the courts. All right. Questions on item C. five DF in a disbursing officer. Okay we're gonna go back to see for administrative office of the courts if I could please have someone come to the table I have several questions. If you could please I'll introduce yourself for the record and Senator Dismang you're recognized for your question. Well being in a chair to the table if you want to come back. I'll call back up okay thanks hopefully I can answer. All right please introduce yourselves for the record. I'm Marty Sullivan I'm the director of the ministry of Office of the Courts. I'm Alex Rogers with the I. T. department of the ministry of Office of the Courts. And on the Andy Davis with the SNA you're recognized and it is not thank you you know the original request was I think twice this particular amount my understanding though is and this is the only reason it's just going to put on record that we don't you know come back here three months from now on we say that we need another twenty million my understanding is this is awarded this is all the money that you will need to complete the system is that correct or you'll have the rest of money that you need to complete the system we have work through a plan to make sure that we won't be back here any time soon for sure hi I'm going for like ever well I mean. The I don't know maybe in twenty years I mean I will be okay there enough sense of maybe we'll both be gone by then Ballinger in our lifetime or our service okay all right so that this but this will fulfill whatever it is that you all need to do in addition whatever funds that you already have on hand and we're not you know plaintiff shall gaming going to ask for money somewhere else to make up for a shift I mean this is this is truly what you need and if so just so I understand how do we go from a forty million dollar think was forty to twenty million dollar request. Many would we just we weren't we we were buying a Cadillac and now we're going to go you know get insure all or what we yes Sir yeah the the original request I think we as we wrote that probably a year and a half ago and so just so you all know we are process over a million and two hundred thousand cases a year in Arkansas state courts so all of your constituents will show up in our state court system so we're talking about the case management system that holds all of these records so. I am I have many sleepless nights because we are constantly being attacked by foreign actors we have the most sensitive records of citizens in the state of Arkansas from juvenile records to individuals that are going through divorce we have bank accounts so. We're keeping that secure and knock on wood we've done a really good job with that the problem here as these legacy based systems that we have over twenty years old and they're failing and just a practical reality is individuals like you and me we get text reminders of we've get doctors Appointments or dentist appointment we get text reminders we're able to pay on our phone for just about everything so that's what the citizens of Arkansas are expecting with our court system so that's what we're going to be able to deliver with this money with this investment we're going to do text reminders so individuals will know when the court date is hopefully that'll reduce failure to appears if they have fines and fees will be able to text them that and so you can pay herein have here's the link to the payment portal is this really is the most significant funds that I think I've ever been allocated for state court technology so I appreciate I know Senator Hickey you've hi forty out on this and I appreciate you you helping us on this in the same the Speaker this really is a special opportunity for us and I I I appreciate it effects all seventy five counties this is this is truly unique all circuit courts are on our case management system we have about thirty percent of the District Court once we get the system up and running hopefully in the next two years of the Supreme Court will require all district courts to be on the same system once that happens we're going to see I think of a large decrease in the theft that occurs I know all of you here the leg audit reports of theft that happens from court employees almost all of those are a private vendors third they're not on the state system the state system it's really. Difficult to steal their so many checks and balances in place so um this is going to allow us to get everybody on the same system and it's truly exciting I mean it's part of our strategic plan of the Supreme Court wrote in a committee that in twenty eighteen and so we're working towards that goal so this is really going to be a lifesaver for the courts and it's going to help all Arkansans so thank you so back to the blood does though with them in this is the only request that are going to be I wondered Senate against it I will not be back asking for more case management. Already make sure to get that on the record so I. Record the director Senator Irvin you're recognized. So last session created a and task force about fines fees restitution I mean I'm I know the people that I've it was my legislation the people on that committee did a lot of work how to get reports could you discuss that as part of this as actually been supportive of of your request absolutely this is you know this this goes hand in hand with the strategic plan that we have you know a lot of the frustration with with fees costs and fines we get that because those are you know I personally I don't think the the the the court system Stibbe funded based off fees costs and fine so it is and so I know that's frustrating for you and your constituents so hopefully this will be a way to track I know one thing that you were advocating for is having a report where individuals that were coming out of prison with jail would know where all other fines are the reason we can't do that now and judges and judges absolutely because I don't know because we don't we don't know if there's it's very difficult to get restitution back to the victim right right which is very important particularly on human trafficking cases where there is financial penalties that we have put into place so your victims are not getting restitution because nobody knows who owes what and they're judges judge Carnahan Chris Carnahan discuss this and look and links about the reforms that are needed he was instrumental in passing that legislation because we have no case management system statewide because there is no way to track it and so judges across the state have no idea in the whoever's jurisdiction if a prisoner owes or somebody owes in this quarter that quarter whatever and so I mean there's a lot of us that have been very familiar with the problems that exist I mean for me and the reason I'm I ask that is because you need we need to understand that this is a statewide project that benefits everybody across the state you've actually how. This request in back during the care is money yes which you are eligible to receive under cares or not awarded it under cares so you've you've had this request for nearly two years now is that right is that correct yes ma'am. Okay well I I know it has moved and I know you all done a lot of the building and house and my last question is on cyber security is a significant portion of this is going to be used for cyber security of that system absolutely absolutely and how are you gonna be doing that is it with then or is our contract with somebody that is to be present it is within we're doing this all in house and again I agree with everything that you said you're completely Rights and we are working tirelessly to make sure everything's safe I want to apologize my IT architect the Director tested positive for covid and so I've got a couple people that are out sick but I'm happy to follow up with you any time well as you know we have a District Court issued that I've discussed with you meeting Wednesday about okay I've been so the L. I think this is a part of. The problems is because we don't have this okay I appreciate it thank I'm here to a lot of opportunities for improvement. And this is one of them. Representative berry you're recognized thank you chair so is there an extended warranty with this Cadillac or do you pay annual the maintenance fee or anything of this is we're actually one of five or six states that are doing something that's super innovative we're doing this and House if you look at I think five years ago I was named director of the administrative office of the courts so this is been a problem for fifteen twenty years and so one of the first things that I did was I contacted other state court administrators around the United States to find out what systems they were using many of them over twenty or using Tyler technology so the first thing that I did was invite Tyler to come to Arkansas and page ME of the system what would it cost to give me a ballpark number and they literally came back and gave me the number of a building a new ballpark it was a forty million dollars since then the prices have gone up dramatically North Carolina I think just signed a contract for eighty million dollars to build their case management system and this is a third party vendor that has to bring this in and modify it no one knows the courts better than me and my staff and so we're building a solution in House there for five other states where we put together a consortium and we're doing this and I think it's probably one of the the the best kept secrets in the state of Arkansas and I hope that something that will all be extremely proud of and the system that we have right now this is going to go to future budget help up for us our case management system contacts it's a of the system that's just really outdated but we have we pay about a million dollars a year in service contracts for this company to help maintain the minutes literally I'm not a tech person but which it's for duct taping the system together and so the new bill we're going to read we're gonna be able to cut the service contract of a million. Alers from contacts in focus that and reinvest that one million dollars a year and constant improvement so we will own it we will on this moving for which I think is remarkable. Okay thank you thank you manager. Thank you senator Stubblefield you're recognized thank you madam chair Hey Marty I just want to ask one question are you categorizing this is so system as a as a skew cybersecurity threat to our entire justice system cross state. There is certainly cyberthreats that we're dealing with on a daily basis this is an actual product that we're building a case management system so essentially if if you're having filings in court almost every county now is the filing so we we shifted to went during covid we shifted almost everything electronically so the case management system that we're using is extremely old and and you can ask any of your judges in your in your area and they're frustrated by three I'm sorry at this read not. I look at it like it is a cyber security threat absolutely okay out thank you manager. All right representative Beatty you're recognized. Thank you madam chair just a quick question earlier mentioned the mandatory usage of the system by the District Court yes with this request of funds cover the cost of those district court's implementing this this program or the B. and there's no request to cover those courts later there is no cost for our system and that's how we were able to get so many of the courts to come on many of the courts did frankly didn't like the system the District Court level so they would go to the local funders in the local final sale will pay for your your local vendor to come in the problem with that is a lot of these local vendors and we've seen this after let's just let of sessions you can't find them so they're not updating the fees and the costs and fines in their system so they're not accurate and so that's a problem we do that on their state and so there is no future costs for any District Court to come on the state system thank you. All right thank you. Passi NO other questions I appreciate it thank you thank you. Members of like to go back to C. three department of commerce Economic Development Commission for just one more quick question. At least. All right Senator Dismang you are recognized. And in this is really just so that I understand because my major source of confusion is been the transition from. Subjects that originally committed to out of the capital projects fund to the you know A. R. P. funding now broadband going over the capital projects fund thank you made a comment at some point that this will be and I think it might have a little bit inaccurate but I think he said this is the last time that we were going to come may be asking for. Our money minute I think if you're only spending ninety then they're sixty million left that's dedicated to broadband roughly rider or whatever it is and so you'll be making another request but that will all be just for the bucket of capital project money. At Arbor is that right it was the last round that we're going to do through our but but yes the six projects that we dropped off to do additional review some of that in a review everything kind of comes out the way we expect it will will have those six projects that will request the balance of the capital projects fund money to fund those projects. Make sure I understand because I am not again this is confuse me since the beginning yeah. There was a capital projects fund underneath our right essentially and that and we decided that we would allocate all of the balance available to us in the capital projects fund to broadband what was the amount within that we allocated to what what what was the balance what's amount available in the capital projects fund. Roughly a hundred and fifty eight million dollars as we stated here we're spending ninety of it today correct and you're going to come back and ask for another request at some point to spend the remaining correct you know whatever fills out correct sixty eight million whatever it may be yeah so this is. When you're saying the last request your bundling the things that we haven't agreed to are you know we're not approved yet yeah it's just it's a part of this rounders not ready for you to review them okay thank you and then there's given the third teacher money that's going to be available underneath the infrastructure. Broadband and when you're telling the other members out here that have a project that wasn't part of the other. Whatever. And it's going to get funded. The anticipation is that is going to get funded through the infrastructure money correct that's correct okay thank you. Senator Irvin you're recognized. Of the remaining ones that dropped off that you're revising this to it are you of any so my understanding that there there is no other applications that will be accepted but you'll just be reviewing those six again the ones that are already in house they've already been submitted they just need to be reviewed a little bit more closely to make sure that everything is as it should be okay but no new applications coming at this okay and is this an exhaustive list of all those that were a lot that applied for their ones that you. That submitted applications that never made it to this list yes that was looking at right now I think is the one fourteen from this morning for today total we received. They're thirty six projects the received at least one application. Overall out of the forty that were presented for competitive bid. But these are the only so we can only fund going back again so we put out forty projects at the beginning. And then we'll received thirty six at one thirty six projects received at least one application some received multiple applications and of those received by two hundred fifty six million dollars in total rent request funds because we only had one hundred fifty to spend read a fund's someway to a method of you know Objectively sort of order them right so we did that and so those first twenty OR so got us up to about one thirty five. but then the six that were had questions from last Friday to yesterday we had to close down just to make sure and authority diligence and make sure that they were accurate. But overall with thirty six hundred the receiver was one indication. If your question is do do we give you a list of all the ISPs who applied for a particular grant the list is the list of the recommended award dis right doesn't include the names of all applicants right so I'm just I I think so I mean we have an initial list and then we have a revised list and so my question is are the ones that are included on this list and not unless the the only ones that are going to be looked at again because more closely or the ones that didn't even make this list and they have a chance to be looked at again more closely and included on funding and not this round of there's just there's just not sufficient funds for this particular around okay any and just describe the process that you went through if you don't mind on how you came up with how you awarded just quickly yes so what we did was we took the All products that came in we use an objective scoring criteria for the first time a statewide level it came out to one application that was the winning application based on score for all thirty six I believe projects that received at least one application at that point we rank them one through about thirty six based upon the grant request per household of the project so I went through several different scenarios and ordering them by the grant request per household in the project and able to us to to serve the most households at the lowest cost to taxpayers and we thought that was the best way to go okay okay thank you for. All right thank you there are no other questions so for the second time I appreciate it will be around all right thank you. All right so the on C. five the women and children first and then replacing the block of funding are there any questions from members on Adams C. five. All right. Nope I have questions if I could have someone the FNA please come to the table. Please introduce yourselves for the record again. Almondvale eighty F. I. ND Babbitt the FNA. All right Senator ARE when you're recognized. Yes so if you can just go through exactly what you did with the. This entire request and how you came about with the additional request and who they are. On the funding. And and the women's and children's shelter I think we just need to make sure that we're understanding because it's been changed from an initial request what it is now and that needs to be explained okay sure. what we did hearing the comments from the Committee and from the domestic violence prevention organizations we went back and looked at the voca funding that these in entities had received across the state and what we what we saw was approximately a four point two million dollar reduction from the pre COVID levels of twenty nineteen and then twenty twenty twelve we dispersed in twenty twenty one and twenty twenty two so that's the way we have to to four point two million dollars those funds will be distributed in in a fashion so that we move each entity back to their pre COVID levels so Your local domestic violence shelter will be funded back to their pre COVID levels at in addition to all entities that receive funding this is not just shelters there other organizations. Rick like stop TV will be a part of that and prosecuting attorneys all those that receive funding. The prosecuting attorneys is the ones that I was familiar with because of what they were a line nine through the court system with dealing with those victims can you talk about the new requests for the women's and children's first shelter sure after and how it was changed sure and why. So after here again hearing feedback from legislative members is committing we went back and we discussed it with women and children first they have a matching grant of four million dollars that can be used for construction of so taking that along with pledge donations of a capital campaign in money that was received from the attorney general's office knowing the new amount for construction basically reduced all that or or. Utilizing those existing opportunities for funding we took the Levin point two and reduced it down keeping in mind I want to go back and just very briefly touched this originally started off as a capital projects fund. And so there were some different criteria we use that got us to the original nine point six million now that it's under or above we can reduce that request down because some of the criteria are not in there so that's kind of this simple way to explain it okay so why five point seven like if it's a four million dollar matching grant why wouldn't it be four million we're what's the difference what's the one point seven million the difference between a four point four million matching grant it it's just a simple mathematical we just took the Levin point to that the current construction cost is going to be reduced it by the Attorney General the private pledges for the capital campaign in the four million dollars of matching grant and we got to the total five point seven million to be able to complete the kind of the building and the construction project. All right center review the back page page twenty nine of packet C. yeah so does that. It it's it's a simple way to them allow them to complete the building with what they currently have implicated Ste of matching grants or currently on paint. All right Senator Dismang you're recognized thank you in this is really question on process because you know I'm as confused as I can be on the process Johnson explained to me DFA's role in with these are funds my understanding it's kind of the unbiased gatekeeper just making sure all the boxes are checked before then goes on the steering committee for consideration of I miss understood any of that. No you have not we literally just collect the applications from any entity that's willing to apply through the website or whether they contact me or some other staff in the office the ticket or that I'm biased yes portion what I said man you guys you all wouldn't have any need or want to lobby for any individual projects particular projects I mean it's just a straightforward unbiased approach to how to these items are then presented to the steering committee. Yes I would agree with that we just we we sent to the consultants they deem eligible we put him on a list and then they are taken up. Okay thank you for the clarification on that in in one question on this women and children's first I mean obviously this is something that will benefit Central Arkansas I think a particular little rock what is it how what is little rock's involvement in this project they committed to this project plastic County committed to this project is it anything that they're willing to use some of their arpa funds to help fund and I do see that other cities or counties or utilizing our funds to help struggling nonprofits in the area obviously this is one that's risen on the list are they are they also committed to this project. from the information we have obviously the City of Little Rock as provided a lease for a ninety nine year lease for some land as far as any additional are funding that may come from Pulaski County or little rock I think that the better address to women and children first and they have a representative here. Are there any other questions. All right C. nine thank you. I move to item. What's my place supplemental agenda item a one DHS I just a go ahead and come to the table please. Please introduce yourself for the record. Thank measure more quiet centered or Human Services. thank you and I'll go ahead and start off if you could just give me a little bit more information I know we have like four awardees that are being granted by the eleven million and then there's an application process for the rest why did we not do an application process for the entire thirty million and so kind of bills that were playing favorites with that those four wheel for the four applications that were included in those those came through the FNA and so I'll defer to them on that piece of our involvement was we drew up a plan to ensure that the rest of the state had appropriate coverage that was similar to that provided by those for applications is that's where the nineteen half million comes in is to cover the remainder of the state so we can sure statewide coverage so it's almost backwards to what I was initially thinking we had for that didn't cover the whole state and you kind of have are introducing a plan that will cover the entire state government are state correct okay give anything to add to that now okay. Are there any other questions. What we have the address of the table. All right I appreciate it thank you thank you all right we'll move to Adam H. two. For severe county could I have the representatives from severe county please come to the table. Have you could please state your name for the record. Laurie house chief executive officer severe county Medical Center. And Greg rebels on vice chairman of the board of governors for super County Medical Center thank you if you could just kind of give us a brief overview of what your request is. Our request is for six point two five million dollars to cover The equipment for the new hospital. Okay can you tell me how we got here I know did you guys pass of the sales tax we did so when art when we set our hospital was in financial stress pre our previous hospital it was actually the owner of the previous hospital Committed fraud and that hospital had closed so our community came together and voted for a bond issue of twenty four million dollars and one percent sales tax to pay that bond issue. Okay and I think you know my question would be I know things have changed in the past that there's inflation there's additional cost. What's your plan if you were to not get these funds what is your plan so at this point we would either have to go back to our community and ask for an additional and sales tax or we're going to have to find additional financing. Okay. Are there any questions from. Senator Dismang you're recognized this maybe for more for DFA or I'm not sure you know and so this makes it again you know a even after I request to please no more late last minute supplementals this makes it into a last minute supplemental for a little over six million dollars. I'm at my question is I mean our long we've been sitting on this particular project how did it because it you know through the advice process make its way to the front of the line and get itself from the steering committee knowing their other projects that definitely qualified nothing against this one we're just trying to understand how we get here so what where did this one come from and women how did y'all did y'all have to the steering committee arrive at the the urgency. Hey. Let me let me back up and take this in a couple steps. The severe county is unique from other hospitals because it is their hospital likeness House said closed due to fraud and it was Medicaid fraud the CEO is actually serving time as I understand in a federal penitentiary. So you had a hospital closed then you have a county with no medical facility there during all of covid it's also a county that meets all the criteria under Arkansas we're talking about the under served disproportionately impacted communities so that begins to fill in some of that need that we need or that we must have for or but in the way we spend our money. So you've got a couple aspects there that are going on so as far as the steering committee it was it was unique from the other hospitals that are already in existence in counties which later on will have a restricted reserve requests for contract review the other hospitals this one's a little bit unique from the rest of all so how long have has this request been held by the FAA before it went to the steering committee then. How how long will it be all had this request for three months or six months or ten days Hey. Let me see here. We were seeing do you know when you put in the request we don't know exactly when the request was put in but we know we that we did it it's been a couple months and then and then there's a process the US assume you're familiar with that it goes through where it went to a consulting firm I'm for a validation this is nothing issue hospital but this process isn't really much of a process that's what we're trying to have a look at this out right now it was that because there are large number of other programs that had request in at the same time frame you had and I understand this one is made it I don't know why I didn't make it a month ago or why did make it two months ago for us to have consideration because we have to beg them pleaded that we no longer have the supplemental so that we have an appropriate period of time review there's been thorough discussion about you know waiting in and making sure we know what we're doing in in funding some of these projects in January but you were added as a supplemental for this meeting and so I guess we're talking a little bit my question will be if you are not funded with this today that's nothing to do with the validity where does that it does it put you all further in your opening or do you all still have a lot means the construction done and we're just waiting to put in a quick minute or what what what is this budget it I'll tell you I'll take in the and that may be why it got the way it is because we're right at the process of opening up and and. And I'm gonna go through a little bit histories just so you understand where we're at you know we were as a. As a community we lost our hospital we of. Were cheated out of it we felt like we went and did what we needed to do to to start a new hospital process and then how to cope with it and as it did with everything else you know things just changed and the and we you know we thought we have the will to top architectural firms to the top construction firms we did all that but when it when it all came out it just ended up costing more than what we anticipated is going to cost a lot of the to cope and so I think may be the reason for the urgency at this point times because we're right there at the point of opening up And so. What we'll do if we don't get these funds is will borrow the money at from and and go ahead and I'll because we don't have a choice. That would have been the plans you say because there's yes in all this our money not to go in on the trajectory were going we wouldn't spend it all and they would not have been six point two five million or whatever available for you all to make a request which was the point of this committee to try to slow things down to understand what's in the pipeline that we may not even if later eyes on at this point well my under I'm I'm sorry I don't mean to keep an aggregate but not my understanding of it was and Lori may you may tell to be a little more specific about this but we did put an application in a time we place and I appreciate that in an thanks for for us sitting back and trying to understand how those applications make their way through to get to the steering committee has been. Difficult to to follow at times and and so I mean. My my question would be you know we've had a thorough this discussion about Hey let's just hit the pause button make sure we understand we are because we don't want to for instance a project like this. not. Not you know we have other things maybe they're less worthy funded ahead of a project like yours that I think has a but will it agree to in the box and I think you too to be honest with you we probably bags me people's we could. There enough because we needed and it's time now I understand with it so my question would be you know we will be back in January for further discussion particular on these funds and clearly there's a balance left what what does that mean if you all wait till January does that injured opening date I mean what what where does that put you all will it definitely passes in a financial bind you know because. We have carefully planned throughout this entire process until covid hit and really astronomically changed our our budgets and so it will just put us in a in a financial bind we will we will have to you know in incur a lot more debt than what we originally hoped for and you know it it made. You know it make you pass from opening certain departments and that we would to provide open up front because we are not able to get that equipment and basically it will it will impact our community in the type of help that we can provide that they've been without for the last four years in a one and one other thing a couple of things one is is that you know the and you are well aware interest rates have increased the open and the last three months basically so so that's going to be a significant number for us as we try to repay those loans and and one thing and and everybody in here may be aware this but may opt in but and I may be really naive but open up in the hospital from scratch ****. And it is not you know. We you know there's things that happen and just just one thing you know there's a process you have to go through to even started to collect revenues that takes a significant period of time from sub between three and six months so so we've got a which is not why we're asking for these funds but you know if that's going to be part of our financial problem as we move forward if we don't get these funds due to the fact that will have to borrow this money for equipment. And use that if you will thank you mmhm Senator Irvin you're recognized. Thank you and along those lines as far as the necessary the need for emergency like is in an emergency needs and and I'm in a state this and I my question would be to the FNA is this request for six million. Is that part of the sixty million that we had had discussions about setting aside for all the hospitals in the State of Arkansas that are in financial need we have said no to some of those hospitals some of those hospitals request had been continuously pushed down and push down and push down and. So. What's the plan. Because I'm real tired of getting told one thing and then showing up in committee and it's something completely different this is not part of the sixty million this here again I go back to it it It servers and it serves a population that is identified and qualified census tracts which is a terminal I understand all of that my question to you again is is it going to be part of the sixty million that we quote unquote set aside arbitrarily for the hospital or class that I know we're hiring a consultant looking at those books I support the request for our money to be used for hospitals I don't care where they are in the state of Arkansas for me. I do not want this to devolve into a G. I. F. grant program I believe that the Arkadiy should be first and foremost spent on hospitals and health care because that is why we're dealing with what we are dealing with because the covid they just stated it. I am so frustrated. By the process I am so frustrated with the lack of communication. And the lack of understanding that we in the legislature serve the entire state and so I I don't understand why things are coming to us as they are coming to us I fully supported as funding Camden hospital because it was also an emerging from what we were told it was an emergency situation but I understand there other hospitals and other areas of the state to have the exact same criteria as candid. That are not getting put before us. So. I mean are we just picking winners and losers. Or. What we doing. This is not part of the sixty million. As far as the sixty million goes after funding Camden hospital is approximately fifty four million left what we heard from leadership in the legislature is there needed to be an evaluation when those proposals come thirty HSS and so what we have on the agenda The later on in this meeting and then and review its funding for a contract to hire Consultants that have the background and the knowledge to come in here and tell us do these hospitals is it really an emergent need or is it so why would that consultant and that process apply to severe County because it is Camden going to also go through that process even though we have already given them the money. Since severe county is not open they're not on the listing of twenty six hospitals that would be considered by the consultant. To your question about Camden The Washington think it's washed accounting Medical Center that would be a question better address to DHS I'm not sure if we can force that hospital go back and go through that review at this point. All the hospitals come through DHS first before they come to this committee well I understand that but I mean if for holding. I will I'll. Are we are we gonna hold everyone to the same standard or not. That's that's not an acceptable answer to my question and and I think that whether it's severe county or Camden or hot springs they would benefit from that process we're hiring a consultant for that. And so. We need to have a standard that's going to be apple couple and applied fairly across the board to everybody because if we're not then we are just picking winners and losers. And that's that's inappropriate behavior in my opinion. There's that. There's two separate groups of hospitals here we've got the existing hospitals that are both right you just answer that Camden's not gonna go through this review process they're an existing hospital we're hiring a consultant we're using our preference so why would they not go through that. After the fight to ensure accountability to the taxpayers of this state at I don't disagree with you that's my job yes I don't disagree with you at all I don't know if. Even though we hired the consultants. I don't know that we can force a hospital whose ori receive funds to go through the same process that the other hospitals and would have to go through that that's a legal question and I do not have the answer for that but I agree with you if if the hospital has gotten funds I think they should go through the process yes if a hospital or any entity goes through a process and receive taxpayer dollars they should be accountable for the way they spend that money and we need to know if it was actually done correctly or not. I think that's pretty reasonable and fair for the taxpayers. I think in centerman just correct me here if I'm not understanding this properly the consultant that were hired to look at these hospitals moving forward is looking to verify the accuracy of the urgency of the request. Yes they're gonna do a more I don't have my notes with me but they're gonna do a more in depth reviews are to look at management plans are to look at what management has done to reduce expenses trade or what service What services are offered or those profitable services or not so what I'm sorry what I think so I'm just trying to bring clarity here so they're they're looking at it from one angle and so it's I can't Senator don't I don't know how we get that same company to go back and look at someone that we've already given the funds Steve for whether or not they the information I presented is accurate with their management plan is they already have the money as far as whether or not they spent the funds in accordance with our by guidelines is a totally different ballgame he and they will have to oversee but not to the consultant madam chair just to your point you just stated that they're going to review these to see if their emergency request needed that's absolutely applicable to the situation with of your county so I would say it would benefit severe county actually to wait and then put them first on the list with the consultants so that actually they're going to be helpful in that process for severe county and then bring that back to us in January that I think would be more reasonable to be honest with you and I think it would be beneficial to you guys. thank you senator rice you're recognized. It is quickly disappear counting of. What is the amount of financing you have an in the the term of years to pay back currently our current bond is twenty four million dollars and we're paying that back over thirty years. What happens are ones are one cent sales tax is collected and the bond payment is is reduced and then we receive the at the difference. So on the the six recorder million If you went back to financing do you have other sources other than the what we've done this or would you say to extend longer we we just happen that we would have to actually go to a bank and receive a lot of different furniture thank you. What's your where where you we at what's your cash on hand what's your expected opening date the expected opening date is before the end of the year okay and right back right now we have just a little over two million dollars but we have a tremendous amount of bills to pay between now and the end we we will we will not have enough money on our own to to be able to proceed probably after the end of the year okay what's your what's your expected monthly operating budget the of staff already hired I'm saving you do we have ninety six staff members already hired him to I'm sorry I don't have my at my budget in front of me that we've been working with an accounting firm in our attorneys extensively to make sure that you know if we do receive this money we will be able to operate and be financially stable are you asking for the monthly expenses yeah just give me like it would be approximately a million dollars approximately million S. what are your current like accounts payable what what's outstanding. Do you probably have I'm I don't know that for sure I think that at this point you know what we're doing now is we're trying to Basically finish up the construction and you know there are there too we are. The reason I don't know that answer is because we have not paid our. Main contractor because we want to make sure they finished and so they haven't finished totally with the punch list so we have form so I'm not sure exactly what that number is but it's somewhere close to mmhm I think a million and a half it's almost one point nine what you have outstanding and yes and payables essentially to finish up the completion of the hospital correct okay representative Vaught you're recognized thank you madam chair thank you all for driving up I know it's been back and forth whether you would actually get to speak or not so I appreciate you all driving at not knowing at today first I want to commend the course you're in my area or from my home county so I appreciate all the work and dedication that's been put into S. trying to get a new hospital from ground up I think there is a difference in the type of hospital that we're trying to open and other hospitals and I would like for you to talk to that point and then I want to thank the people of severe county because they did what was right because it is crucial that we have a hospital in our area and not just to have a hospital there but because industry that's there actually it with the contract with them says that we will have a hospital near their facilities are close to their facilities so there's a couple reasons why it's important that we open this hospital we're very poor very rule and and low poverty in our area is high anyway but the second would be because we have an industry that actually dictates that we will have a hospital I due to the contract that we have with them but I would like for you to speak to the difference in your hospital what you're trying to do and and a standard hospital that is already standing if you don't mind. Sure well and keep care hospital is using. Yes the the standard of hospital that's not necessarily a rule hospital we are going for our critical access hospital designation out first we have to become an acute care hospital is seen as we meet those standards then we can apply for critical access hospital you are hospital is over thirty five miles away from any other medical care that our citizens have and you know it's impaired at our largest industry is this the poultry industry which is pilgrim's pride in their contract to stay in our county it requires us to have a hospital that they are by far our largest employer with over a thousand jobs in so it would absolutely devastate our our council and our community if we can't get this hospital open and we need to get open by the end of the year. Thank you madam chair. Representative Dotson is going to make his way back a difficult. All right well it Senator Dismang jump in for a moment you said open by the end of the year yes. All right. If you don't get this six point two to buy the equipment. Minute I don't know how your supply chain is but in mine. I couldn't order something you get into weeks of any volume of any kind. So have you already had you already have purchase orders and everything in place to make this thing happen yes so what we've done is to there's not I just want to because that's different than I mean we got at I know there's a motion that we need to to address but you're opening before the end of the year regardless if you get this six point two five U. R. to get purchase orders and shipments coming that you agreed to cover in pay for. Before this ever left the steering committee yes that's correct okay that's a different conversation on a we've been having in my opinion which is if we don't get this money we're not gonna open you're gonna open anyway because all the stuff is riding you're gonna have it in place it's just hi I'm going to pay for it is the question. Is that fair that's very fair okay because I don't because I don't want to turn into a discussion which I think is which re read it and I am. I understand the importance of a hospital local hospital we. But your opening if you don't open it's not because of the the fault of this Committee not approving arpa. Thanks for your because you're you already in process will before the. The request was ever brought forward that's it you're exactly what we have to open we're we're the place for we had okay thank you thank you for that because I just didn't want that to get us construed amongst the committee okay thank you. resented Dotson you're recognized. Thank you madam chair in a I think this is. Probably a question for DFA maybe staff can help with this but I'm just trying to get a handle on where where we're at with the overall arc of funds requested been made today I know we have a report on J. five in the packet. But I. I mean the supplemental requests are not on that report at all. And so I don't know. I can definitely can you help me understand exactly where we're at if these requests are approved. What's left the and I guess. I guess it's not just these brought all the held items that that are a. Hello for going to vote on those today are not going to vote on this today or or what the situation is that this is that moment time where we at. Okay we have a listing internally all projects that have cleared the steering committee have been presented including those held by peer. if all of those clear elves we'll have a products and then leave two hundred ninety three million dollars left. Okay so if a hundred percent of everything that you requested of this committee to date. Two ninety three is left of the one point six. Billion total in Arkansans correct okay and then of the ones and that includes this six million the thirty million or so that was in the supplemental. Yes just ahead of this all that yes Sir. If I guess I can do the math on the restaurant thank thank you. If we didn't approve anything today because I have my glasses and I can hardly read this if we didn't approve anything today what would a remaining balance be. I don't the public math very well number one hundred. Somewhere over four hundred million I believe if we don't prove anything today okay thank you. Okay. All right thank you representative what you're recognized. All or nothing okay you to show back up. All right Representative Dotson you wanna go again. Please K. thank you manager at sorry yes I came up with another thought on this of the remaining non approved items are requested how many funding request you have left. For that two hundred ninety three million. What what's sitting out there that we don't know about yet. We have a more guesstimate here somewhere around. Five hundred and fifty request Probably somewhere in the neighborhood of thirty percent are currently still and review by consultants And then we have some that are deemed ineligible just because of the nature of the project has been presented so you're saying we have around fifteen requests that might be coming up still for these funds that you're aware of right now there are. Probably yes probably fifty or so that have been deemed eligible. That may be present in is that hundred fifty million dollars worth requestor seven hundred fifty million dollars with the request how much roughly I mean. Those that have been deemed eligible at this point or seven hundred sixty two million with another hundred seventy million in review. Okay so almost eight hundred. And then. Because I don't have it all split out here you have the exact amount that is being requested that's on today's agenda I don't know staff might have that we can including all supplementals and everything just so we'll add it up for you okay be great. That's the N. J. Pitsch J. it's item J. five I can J. five Page four shows the current remaining balance of four hundred million eight hundred and fifty two thousand and twenty two dollars and fifty seven cents. So that would be a hundred. One hundred and eighty. Million roughly on today's agenda. Being requested give me just a second. While they're doing that addition keep in mind that the projects that were presented for broadband that is coming out of a separate fund are you fund of money as opposed to the Arkansas projects that I just described. They're funding is going to come from capital projects funds so that's part of this four hundred million no Sir that's remaining no Sir. Right. So can or kind of way on that can you. Hello do you have a list of those those things that you can get to us as far as what's coming down the pike is we're getting ready to have to make some really tough decisions on which things get funded in which things don't if we will get to under ninety three million left to put toward projects that you've got seven fifty eight hundred million dollars with requests how are you going to prioritize which though which things come to the steering committee for approval. which come to us I mean are are those things hospital related or day what categories are the in what's your priority list. Well let me first address the first question yes we can definitely share this with you are it's a fairly long when the list we can definitely get that the Committee for you when you as far as prior prioritization. I believe We need to look at it from a statewide perspective to make sure and I think that's what you're gonna see coming through on some plans are both with the domestic violence plan we've we've talked about substance abuse plan There's a follow follow on nursing plan that we're going proof word so there's I think you can see it from a statewide perspective that we definitely appreciate any input that we receive from the committee members. On that list is there is I I see. I may have missed it I don't know but At some point in time the pharmacist getting reimbursed for all of the COVID vaccinations and things that they they put out. Seems to me that was around twenty some odd million dollars. But I don't think I've seen that come through yet and they were supposed to wait till the second tranche was released this summer. Well we're we're past that point where is that is that on that list it is on this list I actually have a conversation with the pharmacy association last week and what we did was we needed some clarification on exactly how they were going to arrive at the reimbursement rates and so working with them we've put together a plan I believe I will get the data sometime this week there's. Here again it's a phone conversation that we've had roughly a hundred twenty pharmacy submit data to the pharmacy association The compiling that they're gonna get it to us and they will have a true dollar amount I believe the dollar amounts can be somewhat less than ten million as of our phone call last week okay so we are working through that process with the best of my recollection that came up like in January February of this year we're waiting for so it's taking this long to get to this point are they going to get it done before the money's all gone. yes I believe I believe we will have an eligible program before all the money's going yes I did that. Thank you madam chair I'll wait for the and it's with not including broadband requests to the total request today the new ones are sixty six point three million. Which would take us to three hundred and thirty four million off the top of my head and remaining funds in in that that that include the supplementals the that's thirty six here okay thank you but not but not what's held that's correct includes it includes the new five the five the three on the regular agenda to on the supplemental but nothing that we've held previously. Total of held items that'll be a little bit we'll get you that number. Her right to other any other questions force of your county what we have them here at the table. Would would it be alright if I say one more thing. Yes okay I just want to mention to to Senator Dismang point about opening when we say yes we're going to open that's because we're positive about what we're going to do you know we've been working with banks trying to to obtain a loan or a line of credit or something for almost two months and we still haven't gotten it done and so and I don't know that we will get it done and so there's just a you know we're we're positive about what we want to do that's what we say we're going to open and but but there's always that possibility we get to this point. And and if nobody will help us we're done. Okay that's so you've been working for two months to secure a loan. As right as of right now we've got one bank or the we you know we went all kinds of bikes both local state and national and we've got one bank that's working with us now but has not given us up yes or no CDS sensually do not have a line of credit with a financial institution at this time. Okay. Seat number sixty eight representative Christiansen you're recognized thank you madam chair. My question is if your county is if you do not get funding today as you requested that puts you in a long process that raises your debt ceiling is that correct so that takes a longer time for you to become profitable or sustainable and in fact could impact the cost of health care for the taxpayer's is that correct that is correct thank you very much. Senator Irvin your record nope. Are there any other questions. All right I appreciate you guys thank thank you today. All right members I think. Probably where we're at the best way to address this with these steering committee awards issue look at them one by one off for a vote. So we'll look at item C. one on the regular agenda is coming C. three we've already privacy one anti C. three do I have a motion to approve item C. three. I have a motion hold on do I have a motion to approve that at the a amended amount of ninety three million eight hundred and ninety two thousand eight hundred eighty five. Yes all right I have that motion do I have a second I have a second is there any discussion on the motion. All right saying none all in favor aye. Opposed nay. Motion carries. All right looking at item C. for administrative office of the courts do you. I have a motion to approve that do I have a second. Got a second are there any discussion on the motion. All right seeing none all in favor aye. Opposed nay. Hi motion carries. Looking at item C. five DF in a. Do I have a motion. I have a motion to pass over this I have a second to pass over this item is there any discussion on this motion. All right seeing none all in favor aye. Opposed nay. Motion carries. We'll pass over this item. Go to the supplemental agenda. Item eighty one. S. over I have a motion to pass over do I have a set of a second string discussion on this motion motion to pass over. All right seeing none all in favor aye. Opposed nay. I'd say the nays have it. Do I have any other motions on this item. So this item currently. All right I have a motion to hold the item. For the next agenda do I have a second I have a second is during discussion on that motion. All right saying none all in favor of holding this until the next agenda say aye. Opposed nay. The ayes have it this item is held to the next agenda. All right I have a motion to pass over item a to you on the supplemental agenda do I have a second. I have a second. All right Senator Hickey you are recognized for a substitute motion yes someone a substitute motion to approve. All right. That is a proper motion and I have a second. Is there any discussion on the substitute motion to approve item a two on the substance the supplemental agenda. Start seeing none all in favor of Senator Hickey is motion say aye. Opposed nay. The ayes have it motion carries. All right. So we are. Passing over the held items. That moves us to item D. on the regular agenda. No. Yes. Representative Wardlaw. motion. Let's hear your motion the motion is is that we hear the held items from the pier agenda on all the A. R. A. R. P. plans and that we go back in revote. I'll take the next next motions have that one first second. All right did did everyone we got a vote for a but I will did everyone here that motion I'll go ahead repeated the motion was that we go ahead and hear the items that have previously been passed over an order under the help section in our regular agenda under item C.. During a discussion on that motion. All right Senator Irvin has requested that we split the chamber for the vote. She okay. He per. Dr three hands for the roll call. All right I have three and so we're going to do a roll call on your motion. Can we split the chamber on the roll call okay and we are splitting the chamber to making sure I have parliamentary procedure correct so is there any discussion on this motion before we start taking the vote. All right seeing none. We'll start with. But actually can I get your Sir I've been I've been trying to let people have discussion members how I want to circle back and we've had discussion for now we've got some new members coming in so I'll just you know trying not to waste everyone's time but. We had G. I. F. and amante this is exactly what it looks like it's individual projects that are prioritized without reason except for influence or whatever it may be this being brought up for consideration that everybody's getting a project if you know that consider today's gonna be very excited and maybe there's enough collectively of you that have a project on the table to pass something today but that's not a good process it's not a fair process. We've asked beg them pleaded to understand how things are being prioritize you just heard about a hospital that's had something held for two months without consideration and it made its way to a supplemental agenda just a few hours before a meeting. That doesn't make any sense to me that tells me that the process has been broken it's been broken for a while we've tried to to talk about that in this committee and nothing's really ever changed. So I don't know how you are going to vote today on hearing the rest these items were were open the door back up. For personal preparation H. back in each district I didn't like it when it happened in the past I'm not gonna like it today and with that I'd ask that you vote no on hearing these additional lives thank you and by the way there's several these projects that are in my district. Senator Rapert you're recognized for discussion thank you not to repeat what Senator Dismang said but I agree one hundred percent I'm disgusted. By this process. I that there are projects on here that I absolutely support. That probably do benefit most the people I represent this is this is not we moved away from G. I. F. grant programs for a very particular reason and to do this the way that has been done is ridiculous and it's wrong. And all you're doing is trying to cause division within the legislature body. That's all you're doing. And you're picking winners and losers in the State of Arkansas well excuse me but every citizen in the state of Arkansas matters every single one of them no matter where they are in this state is a taxpayer. And for you not to have as thoughtful and intentional process and how we go about these. Is unbelievably disrespectful to every citizen the state of Arkansas. I will not participate in this I am a firm no and I hope we do not do this because this is not right to use our committee in a way to benefit certain districts in the state of Arkansas and certain citizens in the state of Arkansas and not everybody in the state of Arkansas. And and so I hope that we vote no I ask you to vote no. I thank you is there any other discussion on the motion. All right saying none. And this is just a reminder this motion is to you go ahead in here and vote on item C. six through seventeen on the regular agenda call the roll we'll start with the House. The manager representative gene. Representative genes yes. Representative Deffenbaugh. That he represented Deffenbaugh in the two alternate first alternate representative Godfrey. Not he represented Ghana for moving to second alternate representive Underwood. The representative Bragg. President brags I. Representative fight. Ninety represented five moving to representative. Hawk. President fox news. Representative Ferguson services I. Resented Vaught. Cinemas yes. Resented Wardlaw. Symbol laws yes. Representative Dotson. Roll call the Senate sorry with Senator Ingram. Senator Teague. Senator Chesterfield. That he's here just feel first alternate Senator Tucker. Senator sample. Senate sample's NO. Senator call will. Senate kolos NO. Senator Hickey. Senator Hickey is I. Senator Flippo. Sensibles NO. Senator Irvin. Senator is no. Senator Rice. Senate races now. One. motion fails. Move on to item C. D. on the agenda. Yes. Thank you madam chair in section D.. These are the infrastructure investment and job that corporation quest there's only one on the agenda today this is for the department of public safety division of emergency management it's for three hundred six thousand a preparation this is to utilize the hazardous materials emergency preparedness grant to protect against the risks to life property and the environment that are inherent to the transportation of hazardous materials. Thank you members of any questions on item the one. Seeing no questions any discussion. We got a motion to approve got a second I was in favor signify by saying aye All opposed motion carries item P.. Thank you Mr chair were in section II this is the Department transportation requests for infrastructure investment and job that corporation this is for two hundred fifteen million in spending authority suspend federal funding on highway construction and highway safety programs transparencies this request for permission for the last quarter of fiscal year twenty three to be a provision. Our members you have any questions on the two hundred fifteen million dollars for the transportation department. No questions no discussion we've got a motion to approve got a second all those in favor signify by saying aye those opposed motion carries F. one. Thank you Mr chairman section F. these are restrict reserve a transfer request the first one if one is a letter from the department of correction Division of correction this is a seventy five million transfer from the majority vote various improvements and projects set aside account within their **** Reserve Fund if this is to expand the division of corrections north central unit. Members do you have any questions on F. one. So you know questions about a motion to approve we've got a second all those in favor signify by saying aye All those opposed motion carries F. two. Thank you share on F. two this is a letter from the FAA this is a request to transfer one point three million from the EBT or contingency three fifths vote said a US citizen account this is to conduct an independent review of the financial and operational viability of up to twenty six rural hospitals and critical access hospitals I will note that there is an appropriation quest for the spending authority for this funds later in the gym in the cache section all right thank you members any questions on F. two. No questions and discussion no discussion got a motion to approve got a second all those in favor signify by saying aye. All those opposed motion carries if for. A committee has shared over yes Sir items three and four are held and so we do have another question the subliminal agenda is on page fifteen of the civil Milligan the packet. The pages fifteen sixteen up on page sixteen of the letter this is B. one supplemental agenda this is a letter from the Department of Education Division of higher education it's a two hundred thousand dollar transfer from the majority vote set aside account within restrict reserve fund and this is to support the establishment of a student success center and veterans resource center on the UCLA campus members do y'all have any questions on the supplemental I'd imagine number B. one B. one. No questions we got I'm no discussion. All right we got a motion to approve got a second all those in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed. Eyes have a motion carries. In C. or G. L. G.. One. All right members we're gonna move to the review items We run the G. one through four so back to all right we're gonna run through items you one through four thank you Mr the reception G. these are cash appropriation request the first items letter from the ministry of Office of the Courts this is the one million dollar appropriation increase its utilize a donation from the attorney general's office for the adult drug court program G. two is on page three this letter from parks heritage tourism the Division of heritage is three hundred thousand an appropriation this is to allow the natural heritage commission to acquire land under a land and water conservation grant is similar to the very Sabri appropriate quick appropriation questions reviewed earlier in each in the wrong G. three this is letter from DNA disbursing officer it's four one point three million this is to conduct the independent review of the financial and operational viability of up to twenty six rural hospitals and critical access hospitals this is this being authority for the fund transfer and researcher for a restricted reserve section. G. four is persuasion towards on Division heritage eighty seven thousand five hundred this is to facilitate a grant from the Walton family foundation for an after school and summer program at the delta cultural center there is one more request system's ability in the this on page eighteen. Page eighteen of the supplemental agenda packet there's a letter it's C. one is for the department of education it's from the Department education Arkansas PBS it's five hundred ninety seven thousand it's to pay for operating expenses the letter explains the fail to increase our preparation for their ready for life initiative and that'll now they will face a shortfall in spending thirty four operating expenses sure those are all the cash appropriation requests. To go through these wanted time represent Dotson and so just hit your back when you're ready for one G. one any questions on G. one and he is now all right G. one. Two. Three. For. And then the item C. one represent Dotson you're recognized for a question and I'm assuming that's ATM yeah. To buy here to answer questions. If you could just recognize yourself for the committee and you're recognized representative to look for the question. Sachin any comparison director of education at Arkansas the. Marty Ralph director of external relations Arkansas PBS. Jim Barksdale controller. Thank you Mr chair thank you at. And just looking this request you paid six hundred thousand dollars to lean in. At I I guess some. Yeah I just didn't know that you could pay them that much yeah so in size you may be better answer this And I am but linked in and we have a long term contract with them for our continuing education has classes that we do and we've been using with Arkansas ideas quite a bit and since we had an existing contract part of education is best use a contract this ready to learn which is workforce training videos that people can access and and I go online and and get for new jobs or whatever may be but yes Is through linked in. And you have a lot of utilization to the people use that a lot. we use that for educators we have a LMS that we do in partnership with department of ed that provide seven hundred courses for K. through twelve teachers and so we also do it for administrators and school support staff this linking contract allows them to have job skills training so something if it's an existing worker they can learn something new to support their their job and then it's also for people who are looking for a job and those skills that they can learn from some of these digital content libraries that we have and you don't host that in House. For people to come get that training directly from you you go through late in a yeah we do that as well so we have many courses over seven hundred the linkedin library is an additional library so that may have things for soft skills like interviewing this is part of the gears finding that we got provided for the ready for life program so they're ready for life program is for the work force to get job skills training and also for existing workers to get training so this is a high quality library of content that allows them to get that training. So you have the money you just don't have the appropriation to spend the money correct okay. Thank you. I write other any other questions while we have them at the table Senator Hickey you're recognized of this section of the thank you madam chair it yes. Can you tell me how much of this is in the house and how much of its online. It is all provided online it's all online and it is free to the people that use it. Two are can you do you keep track of how many people log on we do that part of the ready for life they have a representative that keeps it but we are also that ministry so we can have you don't do you know what those numbers are down we don't have a goal to look at those numbers at this point but I can certainly look I would like to know what the number of the percentages that log on to these on online yes thank you thank you manager. I thank you are there any other questions while they're at the table. Axing nine thank you. All right other any other questions for items G. one through four on the regular agenda or item C. one on the supplemental agenda. All right saying none we will mark. Did I hear questions. A motion but we'll just mark these items enters as reviewed thank you. It's Adam H.. Hi. Thank you ma'am chair reinspection H. these are the miscellaneous federal grants the first two H. one and H. two for the office of the prosecutor coordinator the first one for seventy seven thousand the second ones for three hundred fifty dollars these are to provide loan repayment assistance for local state and federal public defenders and prosecutors who commit to continued employment for at least three years. The next item is number three this is a part of Education Division of current technical education for four hundred fifty thousand spinning authority for federal funds is to return grant funds to the U. S. department education as a result of injury funds were audit findings. Next item number four is department of health it's seventy thousand an appropriation is they have a grant from the CDC for the Arkansas behavioral risk factor surveillance system Nicks items number five DHS division you services this is one point four million in spending authority they have a grant from the department of health and Human Services for the social services block grant for residential treatment services number six is the gist Division of aging is ten point eight million an appropriation they have a grant from the department health and Human Services to address the opioid crisis number seventy chest division of aging sixty four thousand a preparation and to establish one position they have a grant from the public health and Human Services to support activities to access mental health treatment in crisis care. Number eight is the gist Division of aging sixty four thousand and also to establish one position they have a grant to support cedar Medicare fraud patrol activities. Number nine is the justice division again this is for seventy nine thousand appropriation into established one position they have a grant to support activities related to the older Americans act. Number ten is the chess Division of Asian again this is for four hundred forty one thousand appropriation and to establish six positions they have a grant from the department health Human Services to support activities related to substance abuse prevention and treatment number eleven is each's division of developmental disabilities this is two million appropriation they have a grant from the US department of education for first connections as an early intervention at work to serve children up to thirty six months who have a developmental disabilities or delays. Number twelve number twelve and thirteen R. for DHS division county operations number twelve is for two point one million and to establish two positions number thirteen for eight hundred seventy two thousand and these are grant from the USDA to provide employment and training services for able bodied snap recipients. Number fourteen is for DHS County operations for two point five million appropriation they have a grant from the USDA to increase the likelihood persons eligible for snap will make healthy food choices number fifteen again the chess Division occurring operations a hundred forty two thousand appropriation this is another grant the USDA to do outreach for seniors in areas identified to close that participation number sixteen is the chess accounting operations twenty thousand appropriation this is another grand view CA this is to give able bodied adults with dependents the opportunity to volunteer in their community to meet requirements. Number seventeen is department of commerce Economic Development Commission is for thirty one thousand an appropriation they have a grant for the department for for service to create to create a development video for K. through twelve students as part of their career counseling and workforce training project. Number eighteen is for the department public safety it's four million appropriation and to establish one position in a grant from the bureau of justice assistance to assist with the collection of lawfully owned the in a particular from sex offenders who have yet to submit their DNA for entry into a database I'm sure those are all the amenities on today's agenda. All right thank you Senator Stubblefield. Did you have a question. Minister Mike is on. How it is no okay. They know today's my last day in the played tricks on me. So all right are there any questions on any of the items on H.. All right saying none will mark those as reviewed and will move to item I. Thank you madam chair were in section III these are paid plan performance fund appropriation requests there's only one on the agenda is for the the regulatory divisions a hundred ninety five thousand people in preparation this is to support the Arkansas tobacco control enforcement activities. Thank you are there any questions on item I. All right seeing none will mark that item as reviewed. All right we'll go ahead with the reports. Thank you madam chair in monthly reports the first one is J. one surplus income and distribution report in this report shows the sources of the obligated funds and then the distributions for the rainy day restrict reserve and long term reserve fund as of the end of November the rainy day fund shall sixteen point two million distributions in the balance of three hundred forty seven thousand restrict reserve fund shows almost two hundred thirty three million distributions and overall balance of a hundred eighty seven million and you will also be a hundred nine million that's after seventy six point five million in transfers on today's agenda the total cash of reserve announces one point two billion the next report is due to budget senate session and the shows the cast alone throughout the fiscal year as of the end of November there are fifteen twenty million outstanding loans and the cash balance is a hundred and seventy nine million the next report is G. three tobacco settlement and this report gives a summary of income fund balances investments actual payments to the state and on the second page for all expenses by fiscal year number fifty four is the essential services report and this shows the fund balance and disbursements as well as expenditures of each agency supported by the fun and the last forty five the American rescue plan report the first five pages of the report sure requests that were approved by the air peace during committee that the state has discretion in awarding on the six page begin the task and a that's report of every funds were sent directly to state agencies from various federal departments and on page twelve is attachment B. this report of the every this is reporting of people ands that were sent directly to institutions of higher education. All right representative ought to have a question no ma'am I have other business okay let me get through these real quick and I will recognize you for other business and that's all right other any questions on any of the items on J. the reports. All right say none will mark those as reviewed I write representative what you're recognized thank you ma'am I would like to ask for a point of personal privilege you're recognized as today is madam chairs last day and it has been an honor to serve with you for eight years. As one of the best legislators I think that's probably ever been elected to the state legislature especially to the house of representatives as you move onto your next adventure we we help you the best and you will be sorely missed. Thank you very much. Thank you teared up now No I told it set yeah I tell my district it has I've been to meetings across the state that it's been the greatest honor of my life to have been elected in and to get to serve them for these past eight years and you know it's been the biggest privilege of my life to get to serve with you all to get to know you you have definitely all individually and collectively shaped who I am as a person and so this this is been bitter sweet up and said you're great in the last couple minutes just this is the last time all seat this room from this vantage point so it's truly been an honor to serve with you all thank you. And. We can't quite yet. We actually have one more motion. Yeah and and with that for that it mean funny thing is you look at me earlier and said I'm not gonna miss serving with you as chair I don't know why. He's really not exaggerating. So that we do have several items that are held for that we passed over in so as you know this is gonna be our last meetings we just talked about and so those need to actually get referred to the peer budget committee and so the motion is a move that all held items on today's agenda be. Referred to JBC upon adoption on Friday of the subcommittee's report by council. We I'm I'm taking a motion like I'm all right I have a motion and a second is there any discussion on the motion all right saying none all in favor aye. Opposed nay. Motion carries and we are adjourned.