ALC-JBC Budget Hearings

Representative Cavenaugh you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair special language subcommittee met on Wednesday November the second at one thirty PM and report the following actions the subcommittee adopted the agency recommendations for language for the constitutional agencies listed with the exception of the revised agency recommendation which is notice as attachment one the subcommittee adopted executive recommendations for the agency language listed the subcommittee adopted institution request for the language recommended by the institutions of higher education and approved by the higher education coordinating board the subcommittee adopted legislative recommendations for certain pieces of agency ledge Y. agency language those items are noted in the report the special language meeting will take place Wednesday. November the ninth at one thirty PM and mac big building I move for adoption of the report. Thank you I have a second I have a second any discussion on the motion not all in favor I. Posed thank you specialized subcommittee report is approved except we have the personnel subcommittee Senator Wallace are you ready for that Sir. Mr share this too should receive their H. U. C. recommendation and the all agencies receive the executive recommendations with the exception of the debate for positions at the BT. We recommend approval. Okay I have a motion for approval of second second all in favor I ask. Opposed thank you for that thanks to Kevin's got the information for some miscellaneous federal grant appropriation authorizations yes Sir thank you Mr chairman this is item B. three this is a miscellaneous federal grants that have already been approved for the current year by the General Assembly adoption of this letter will allow these federal appropriations to be continued and included in the new FY twenty four appropriation bills as item B. three Mister chairman. Any questions on that for K.. If not I have a motion to approve. Do I have a motion to approve I have a motion and a second. Second all in favor aye. Boast thank you for that. we will now be going to the audit findings for department of education and the. Our auditor is ready you're recognized police recognize yourself president. Thank you Mr my name is David Webb I'm an audit supervisor with Arkansas legislative audit a recent audit funding for the department of education is included in the materials that you have today there was one finding for the departmental audit report for the year ended June thirtieth twenty twenty one during our observation of capital assets the Arkansas school for the deaf was unable to locate two pieces of equipment with the total cost of thirty three thousand dollars and additionally one item valued at thirty five thousand dollars had been deleted from the accounting records but was still on handed in service. Thank you Mr chairman that concludes the audit funding for this agency. Thank you are there any questions on all the fun. All right thank you appreciate your presentation. Then we are ready for our analysts of the eighties Walden if you will president. Thank you Mr chairman good morning members Katie Walden bureau of legislative research fiscal division this morning we're going to be reviewing the department of education and its divisions budget requests for the upcoming biennium the first budget request for your review begins on page one of your manual this is the Department of education administration and shared services as you all know the department of education administers the programs and finance financial assistance to the state's public elementary and secondary schools the Arkansas constitution requires the state to maintain a general suitable and efficient system of free public schools and to adopt all suitable means to secure to the people the advantages and opportunities of education the first appropriation for your review is detailed on page three of your manual this is their shared services paying account appropriation. This appropriation totals about eight million dollars each year it is funded with moneys an appropriation transferred from the various divisions of the department of education and it provides for the overall administration of this cabinet level agency as you can see in the summary this listed on page two the agency request to transfer in nine new positions from various divisions as well as a number of re classifications six extra help positions with associated salaries and matching costs. An executive recommendation provides for the appropriation with the exception of the new regular positions and re classifications these are on hold for further review by the new administration this results in the executive recommendation totaling seven point nine million dollars annually. Mr if it please the committee I will move forward and do the Department of it also operations appropriation. Thank you the Department appropriations summary. Is on page eleven. As you can see eighty E. has eighteen appropriations total under their operations appropriation. This provides for all the staff of the department of ed the appropriations for all the grants that they receive their federal programs. The request totals one point eight six billion dollars each year of the biennium and it's funded with federal revenue cash funds general revenues fund balances trust funds educational adequacy funds in funding from the educational excellence trust fund. They have three hundred twenty positions authorized an eleven extra help if it pleases the committee all go over the appropriations with change levels at this time. The first appropriation with change levels is on page sixteen. Is the federal grants administration appropriation. This total six hundred and seventy thousand dollars for each year this provides for the administration accounting and purchasing of their federal programs. The request for the reclassification of one position with no associated appropriation. And any salary in matching changes you'll see here are a result of adjustments that were made in the previous finding them so they don't constitute a change level executive recommendation provides for the agency request with the exception of the reclassification which is placed on hold by a review of the new administration. The next appropriation which changes is Medicaid administration cash and treasury this is on page eighteen this is a cash appropriation budget is funded through the Arkansas Medicaid program this program provides Medicaid reimbursement to schools for providing therapy and health services and you'll see on page eighteen eighty E. requests a total increase of eight point seven five million dollars annually for a total new appropriation of forty million dollars each year they state this is this is because they are changing their payment structure in providing reimbursement for the full school year within the fiscal year so they're trying to pay off all the therapy services by June so they need this appropriation to be able to cover those costs. The executive recommendation provides for this request. The next appropriation which changes the professional licensure standards board. It is on page twenty. This appropriation is funded with cash funds and provides for the activities of the professional licensure standards board including the establishment of standards for potential teachers and investigations of non compliance. The agency requested total appropriation of one point four million dollars for each year of the biennium. This includes our reclassification of two positions with no requested change an appropriation and the restoration of fifty thousand dollars in capital outlay for unforeseen capital needs the executive recommendation provides for the agency request with the exception of the re classifications which are placed on hold for review of the new administration. The next appropriation with changes is on page twenty two it is the state operations appropriation. This appropriations funded with general revenue and it provides for the operations costs of the department of education including all of their divisions central administration educator effectiveness licensure division of learning services academic accountability research and technology. And they request twenty two point one million dollars for each year the biennium and this includes an eighteen point two million dollar request for general revenue. You see in their request narrative that they're requesting to transfer seven positions to shared services with associated salaries and match they want to re classify twelve positions and upgrade one position but these including no appropriation change they also want to restore one hundred thousand dollars each year in capital outlay for department needs executive recommendation provides for the agency request an appropriation with the exception of the position re classifications and upgrade. The fifth appropriation with changes is the child nutrition appropriation. This is on page twenty eight. This appropriation is federally funded and provides administrative services and reimbursement to school districts that participate in school lunch school breakfast and special milk programs. You'll see on page twenty nine the request for hundred and twenty eight million dollars for each year of the biennium. And the change levels increase include the upgrade of seven positions with associated salaries and matching and the reclassification of four positions and those re classes include no change in the appropriation. Finally they want fifty thousand dollars in capital outlay to restore appropriation to previous levels. Executive recommendation provides for the agency request with the exception of the upgrades and re classifications with associated appropriation those will be reviewed by the new administration. On page thirty one. We have the federal elementary and secondary education. This appropriation houses the federal entitlement programs including special ed early childhood programs aids education migrant education in English language learner support and others the agency request one point two eight billion dollars for each year the biennium. And it includes a couple of change levels they want to re classify one position with no associated appropriation and they want to restore their capital outlay for the biennium at two hundred thousand dollars annually executive recommendation does provide for the capital outlay but they have placed the reclassification on hold for review by the new administration. On page thirty five we have the multiple grant awards program Cashin treasury. This appropriation provides for the spending of various grants from sources other than federal government received by the department of ed they request two point four seven million dollars for each year of the biennium this total includes an increase of nine hundred thousand dollars per year and this is to accommodate a grant from the Walton foundation. That they received for mathematics curriculum programs in schools statewide. They also want to restore their capital outlay at one hundred thousand dollars each year and the executive recommendation provides for the agency request. On page forty nine. You will see the save the children appropriation. And you may notice there is there to save the bill the save the children appropriations in the appropriation request the first one is for five hundred thousand dollars and it's requested to continue at the same level so I didn't go over that one but this one there was a second appropriation added in a previous biennium for two million dollars for save the children and the Department of it has requested to discontinue the two million dollar appropriation for efficiency sake and to continue the five hundred thousand dollar preparation just so that there's one fund center going to that entity and executive recommendation does provide for the discontinuation of this particular. Appropriation. The last appropriation which changes for department of ed operations is on page fifty two. It is the Arkansas better chance program administration appropriation this is funded with general revenues and provides for the administration costs of the state's pre K. program Arkansas better chance the total request is two point one seven million dollars for each year of the biennium this includes the reclassification of six positions with no change in the appropriation due to these the executive recommendation provides for the appropriation but places the six re classifications on hold for review by the new administration this concludes my remarks on the department of education operations thank you Miss World under the department's going to come up the table. We do have some questions on the board. Welcome and when you get settled their fuel recognized for sale. Johnny keep part of education. Greg Rogers to fund education thank you representative Cavenaugh you're recognized thank you Mr chairman over here to the right. Thank you okay first thing I do is I have a request if you could supply me with the report just. Sometime before session please I would like to have a report showing off fund balances. The source of the funds. And any restrictions on those fund balances so I don't care if it's a cash balance general revenue federal funds special revenue whatever you've got a fine balance in if I could never report that shows that information on it okay we'll get that fourth thank you and on page twenty five that is your building maintenance I was just looking on that you do have a large fund balances that and it doesn't show that you're doing much spending in that so that's one thing I'd like for you to look at. You're most. Historic spend on this particular appropriation was in eighteen nineteen it was for thirty thousand dollars. You have a fund balances shows of about four point four million dollars in that. So on yes ma'am so with theirs too appropriations or side of that fun we have a reappropriation of that we used to do building maintenance as well and that's the one that we use in weeks we last year we transferred eight hundred twenty three thousand dollars out in that reappropriation capital of appropriation to use for building maintenance. That still left to a fine balance of four point four million dollars even after that transfer. Correct and right now we've just gone through or renovate and RCTV building we've got other billing renovations that we are doing because unlike a lot of different agencies the department education owns our the that lock. The guards for building the building and that the bill that we the department has to maintain those so instead of asking for jim improving appropriation to keep those up we pay ourselves rent in this fun and that's what we do our capital improvements with okay on similar on page twenty seven this is the revolving loan. And on this can you tell me really how many loans that we've had on this appropriation how may launch we've given out. You have a record. Yes we'll get that just a second but I will say that that fund has not been used much lately the last several years because it's been advantageous for districts to go seek other financing opportunities of that is this fun is of a available for districts if they want to purchase school buses or do you know that type of expense. And it's possible that with the interest rates going the direction they're going that this might become an option again for districts to use but we do realize that this is carried out of fund balance for some time and has had a little activity of but I think there's the the the market the financing market being favorable to school districts has been one of the reasons why and also on this particular Secretary you're most to store expand has been five hundred thirty thousand dollars and that was back in two thousand twelve thirteen so I mean even if you go back ten years you don't have any history showing that you're doing loans of thirteen million dollars no we we we certainly understand that and we we have looked in the past it different opportunities to use that Fund in a different ways or may be expand the use of that fun and that's something that will continue to do but it's it's a it's it doesn't get replenished every year except by any repayments that come in yeah that's why I was looking for that report about what it could be used for there are several unfunded. Programs in here that are funds you know is is this something that we can use to help fund some of those and fund it whether it's a nursing programs or whatever it is and because we have a lot of those in there never funded so. Right. Thank you Mister Rogers has information about number one right now we have three loans outstanding with the. Two different school districts for a total of a. We're just a little under eighty thousand dollars okay thank you. Thank you Senator Hammer you're recognized thank you let me pick up on that conversation with quick question the way that loan program is structured is is not advantageous for the schools to utilize that above whatever resources are using or is that something you all would look at maybe the you know live it up a little bit. Well I'm just because of the the low interest rates in the last several years it is our interest rate would not be as favorable as what they can get through a local finance institution or or something like that so that's why I'm saying now that the those some commercial rates are going up it may become more fine financially advantageous for them to look at this this option that that interest rates referred to who sets and determines what the interest rate is that uh Sir you were treasury treasury secretary okay and I'm not sure what it is right at this moment but we can get that info for you okay and then another question would be the. With the of free lunches going away or yelp tracking that or do you have is that on your radar screen the free lunch is going away the team you know feds are not paying for a more and is that builds or addressed anywhere in your budget are you going to for that to the next administration to take that up. It is on our radar the difficulty that districts and countering now is just once we once parents got out of the habit of the routine of filling out those free reduced lunch forms it's been really difficult for districts to get them back into that routine we do not want their districts that are having some issues with that you know that is to make up the difference between what the feds have paid historically and what in districts are are might come in as far as a shortfall of you know that that's something that would be very expensive if the state took that on there are provisions programs that some states are looking at but we're they would make up the disk difference in in every child would be free as they did during the pandemic but I think that would be several millions of dollars four Arkansas if we were to look at general revenue to fill that void with parents who just get those forms filled out that or leave you a lot of the problem correct it would help immensely yes okay the if we can get that done our thank you thank you Sir. And Senators interest rate right now is four point nine five percent. On loans for the revolving loan fund. Thank you representative and you're recognized thank you Mr secretary achy of looking at page forty three and forty nine. Leave us correct pages the stead to. Request on the save the children programs can you explain the departments Reasoning for wanting to cut. Two million dollars out of programs for after school literacy for low income at risk students. It's just the condenser appropriation that appropriation was funded the other appropriation was funded and I'm not sure I I really don't remember how we ended up having to appropriations for that we just simply dropped one of those corporations but we can continue funding of the the end of the first the appropriate five hundred thousand yes was there any discussion maybe combine those split the difference and just have one appropriation for maybe more than that or we would be open to that conversation I think just when we look at the appropriations from buying back to buying them the one ones that don't get funded that are kind of add on's we often just kind of drop those or seek to drop those but when we looked at that we did not want to completely eliminate. Funding save the children and so that we kept that one okay thank you thank you Mr. Thank you a representative Springer you're recognized. Good morning thank you Mr chair of representative use picked up all my questions and I had questions about the save the children program as well so can can we do we have any historical data with respect to monitoring or evaluation of these programs for that amount to go from two million dollars down to five hundred thousand dollars I'm I'm very concerned about that because if it involves this additional assistance and help the students I'm trying to figure out why would you cut that from two million to the the **** from two million to five hundred thousand dollars well and just to clarify the there's never been two million that has been funded stamp procreative so what we have worked to save the children we have a granted them additional funds to the gear funding I believe this one of the federal S. for funds that came into place so they they receive grants through that there also programs that are available through the through some of the state set aside Esther funds where groups like save the children can get access to other grant funding for before school after school summer school programs we do have some information happy to provide it of the work the save the children has done and the kind of how they've leveraged the state investment in getting match from local entities and other entities to help further their work so we will have that available to if you'd like thank you I would I would like to know provide information with respect to the program for the last three years as to where it's been of course been funded the total amount for the last three years to school districts and so forth if you could break that down and provide that information to me because I think it's very important that we have that information given that I've kids cannot read on grade level it beginning. It will third grade level we will bill waybill we need to be thank you. President will your record. Thank you Mr chairman I would like to follow along with a representative Cavenaugh is request I'd like to know the total dollar of interest alone on the total dollars of your fund balances. And then I'd like to know what that money goes for and then I'd like to know why you don't show that is an income funding source because with the balances you've got it's got to be a pretty good amount of money so what I'll do not show that interest as an income. Or funding source so I have a I can be with you on and show you the interest on or send it to and staff knows how but as far as well we don't show it on the in the budget manual is that what you're asking I'm trying to as is there's no interest shown as funding source under any category of any money your budgets so the we don't compile the budget manuals that that's how DFA would together so that as you well you don't show would be usual anywhere. I'm not worried about the FAA I've got a problem with this where they're doing it to yes I have we're not we're not keeping up with the interest income at the agency level and I think that's very important I think we need to do it and I will work to get the forms changed so what I'm asking you to provide me with is a report that shows all your interest income from all your fund balance sources and where that money is used and then answer the question why do you not show it is of income source because it's got to be a pretty good amount of money I'm trying to track that interest rate of that where that money's going and how that money is being used because is income from taxpayers money of the state of Arkansas and is not being treated right that I don't care how you could or how you look at it there's gonna be some changes might so that's what I'm asking you and I can absolutely I have a list of our interests not and I'll I'll have some more questions represent one tip you know that just that hasn't been the practice in state government as long as that I can remember but if that is a practice that week but if if. In the past it's a new day yes and things are going to be done differently in state government as long as I'm setting in this chair right I will ask you to try to do that anybody will tell you in any business and any government agency they should show interest income is a funding source I don't care what DFA says and I don't care what the governor's office is it but they're dead wrong is an income source we we have over a hundred million dollars in state government last year we were in forty million dollars in the past quarter because of the higher interest rates and inflation spa or and the thing about it is we don't know for sure exactly where all that money is going and how it's being used and that's what we won't so don't come up here and tell me that we what state government is that I know what state government has done for fifty years and I'm telling you it's not rock. Yes your and I was going to say that I agree with you that we need to change the practice of the use the R. I remember a representative that it wasn't that long ago that I believe it Senator Dismang you may have been represented Dismang at the time of it during peer was asking state treasury you know why are we did not get a better reports on interest income and actually the investments at that time were invested in very low return of instruments so one of the things that has I have seen in the last fifteen years is better management of those funds as far as what they're being invested in in the return that they're getting so yes I think if if there's a way that we can change the practice to show that I will I'm supportive of that and would to be open to working with you to see how we can make it happen thank you very much. Thank you senator you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair Secretary of. I I am is it a matter of the fed's. Will not pay for lunches anymore or is there something else at play here. Hello they did not continue the waivers that basically set in place the the the pay structure for school lunches during the two or so years of pandemic that was that would have taken less time congressional action to do that they did leave some of the waivers in place the waiver that covered every school church child did not continue okay so but those with them who are who were originally quote unquote the most needy are still getting an opportunity to have a free lunch Senate Chesterfield here do something. Well yes but again pending the. Either filling out the free or reduced lunch form or if the district has filed for one of the other provisions such as community eligibility provision which requires a certain level of of their population to be at the poverty level and then that kicks in four okay. I'm on the up and on page twenty I don't think you need to turn back there necessarily The fees for potential teachers I don't know if I heard that correctly or not widget there was no can you tell me about that what that means or. A. Welcome me we have no changes to that but the the the fees paid for the licensure fees go find PLS bi and right now that seventy five dollars for five years that's for the the license itself. Of then they would also pay ten dollars for the central registry check that's the DHS and thirty five dollars for fingerprinting which is a combination of state police and FBI so a hundred twenty dollars. Seventy five dollars is for five years now at the change employer then they will have to go through the central registry check and fingerprinting every time. So if you change every by potential teachers as that's defined as people who become completed everything they're just up to that point where they've got to go through all the process and the correct background okay as I was saying there's a lot of teachers and the other potentials and we just need something that will. I was getting excited okay you senator that for our educators rising. Participants we saw an increase from about four hundred students last year to over twelve hundred students that's here through the good so yes we are working on that right my and my last question has to do with the mathematics curriculum and why we are I don't know if we sought the grant of whatever but why we are paying for a mathematics curriculum by some outside entity or explain to me how that works. Yes I may need to get somebody to get additional information for you on that I know that's it we worked with various organizations on our map quest and it's an effort to. Improve our delivery improve our curriculum and middle high school but I can get someone to get you more details on that. So if the department of education though if you're still in charge of the mathematics curriculum yes yes the standard and this would include whatever we develop is aligned with our Arkansas Mastan okay so but somebody can explain to me why this is being funded by some outside entity and what impact that might have there is somebody can get means yes tell that yes we will get somebody follow up with you okay thank you thank you Mr chair. Thank you a representative Crawford you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair good morning. my question is one that as Arkansas stands against federal mandates of title nine. Have you thought about how that will reflect in your state budget and the things that we're going to need to do. Well it certainly will depend on the direction I mean I I can't speak to some of the lawsuits that are pending but I know that the Arkansas is involved and at least one maybe two lawsuits dealing with title nine issues and it's really hard to know how those with how those will go and what impact those could have if the federal government is. Once funding I mean at this point I'm not aware of any state that has had federal funds withheld but if that and it does become a situation that has. Of the implications of that would be considerable and we will keep you posted on what that would mean okay but we don't have an assessment of that right okay although it please I had do you believe that we will be able to protect our children if such things come name. A specifically. Well I certainly think we will and I think this General Assembly is pass legislation with that goal in mind okay thank you. Senator Hammer you're recognized thank you Mr on the interest earned subject educate me does that money all trickle down to those individual accounts or is it lumped into your overall fund balance. Eight I'm sorry I'm not tremendous are you talk about just. The interested the representative we was talking about the interest earned the health of those berries accounts are often in the accounts does that interest earned stay within its appropriate or within the category of its appropriation or does it trickle down to an overall fund balance that we ask about from time to time. Both. It depends on which the appropriation it is which if it's a cash fund if it's a federal funded guys staying there because we can't keep that ensures we automatically send that back to the feds but if it's a cash account it can be used in the cash fund to which it was earned in. Okay. The. John do you wanna say someone sorry looks but no upon it okay then the the second question would be on the categories involving shared services that I see in here that's shared services within the agency's structure correct where you just moving money around with any of your agency correct yes that's over okay and then the next questions on Medicaid I'm looking at page seventeen. And you're requesting appropriation an amount of forty million dollars in each year of the biennium can you just talk about the the Medicaid reimbursement and is that from the services are being provided by the school that they're being reimbursed by Medicaid and is that a growing number from From budget cycle budget cycle yes it is that that's the Services happen at the schools and what's been happening there is that we've not been able to pay. The fourth quarter. Of until the next fiscal year rolls over it so we're asking just because we didn't have the appropriation and so we're asking for the additional preparation so we can actually make that payment. in the. For the for the fourth quarter in that fiscal year. But that's reflective of the increased demand that's coming from for those funds okay can you anticipate that that is going to continue to continue to grow or you think more about level office schools utilize what they can bill off to Medicaid or what your thoughts I think that's going to grow Senator I really do I think we still have districts that probably have room to. Be able to do more and I think they're looking to do that so I I expect that over time this is going to continue to to grow and is that realized income to the district as the Medicaid reimbursement gross to them is that realized income to them and to their it depends on how much it up I mean they're saying some of those districts have in house people perform services but a lot of those those services are provided by outside entities. And but but their request yeah we we don't see a decrease in the number of services or number of of things that are being required under IT peas and that's where some of those. So most things can happen in that increase gross okay and then the last question is is and I know this is being addressed in the matrix and you know adequacy study but as is reflected in the budget before us I know that there is a seems to be a growing demand to help support schools with the cost of of of special needs kids that are in you know in in their individualized classrooms and also know there's a move to push kids out of that from what I'm hearing to to put him into the normal classroom setting is that addressed anywhere in your budget as far as the cost to increase funding to that if you made allowances for that in this budget or we're just going to let that a Quincy thing play out the next ministration pick it up and go well we we did not address that because that is part of adequacy and so what's reflected here does not reflect. Either the House committees are the Senate committee's recommendations at this point but that's something we would have to address in the session our thank you they Mr. Thank you representative will you're recognized thank you Mr chairman. Instructor I'd like to talk about testing budget how much how much is it costing us to test the students of Arkansas how how much have you budgeted. That representative that is in the public school fund. The the in the next and I think that's the next segment represent with. Two of them like this in the next section that ms Walden will cover all right thank you follow up from the in your total budget and we just went through this and personnel you all requested seventeen new positions. And you have two hundred twenty four vacancies down there and you have ninety six that over two years old that's forty three percent of your bill of of your positions that are over two years so why are you asking for seventeen new positions when you got two hundred twenty four vacant down there. I want I want secretary to answer this yeah because the vacancies we have don't match up with the needs and the requests were to match up with the needs of the agency well could you just read as for salary adjustments and reclassification of those some of those vacant positions that's one way to do it yes Sir and we have done that in the past why are you asking for seventeen new positions and when you've got ninety six that have been vacant for over two years that's what I'm trying to get to the bottom yes Sir do we do that so that the General Assembly because at times that you don't like it well if you don't like it sometimes we come during the middle of the fiscal year and I remember being asked we just got out of session why are you doing this now we just left the session why did you ask for ten so we're trying to get up front and ask for those things ahead of time to to make those just what we needed you're not answer my question well I thought use not reclassify the ninety six one of the some of those are are at a level that you just simply can't reclassify Monmouth leaner level three fours tubes. And they're not we're not welfare and on the there were two years old in there that have payment process of of getting those on that list of the the two year where they'll go away so so do we need legislation that says you're going to re classify those positions I mean I just don't understand why some of those seventeen are re classifications I mean that because there are either we have people who are topped out or their jobs have changed and so the position they're in now is being re classified so that that's or the are you heading to the total employment of the department knows it would still be under cap. We're making sure we stay under cap as an agency what is your cat so you're right well that from a some but what I'm saying are you adding seventeen new positions to the positions that are currently fill. So there was a new position no Sir. Not completely new complete we we have added we have added positions through through the pool process as the need to come up but no these these are If for the most part we're not at looking to add new head count to the Department. Ten of the seventeen or or were request from northwest technical who were looking to grow their well there are important I've got your authorized positions or thousand and sixty two. And you've got a thousand and fifty budgeted. So with seventeen additional employees you're going the over your authorized number that will well those those numbers of positions would not. Did not translate to actual head counts we would not be adding now for northwest technical that would be adding head count because those are faculty positions that they're asking for for our growing there the nursing program and other allied health programs are in. It's under the Division of higher ed yesterday well the they just gave up they just gave up a thousand one hundred forty two presents and northwest technical is different because they're not they're they're still a state agency they're classified under the lead agency rather than a actual independent higher education institution will. The show eighty one employees and how many more I think you're asking for three more days of rest and go along with that of does not understand were for that correct with the ages have they have a authorized positions of eighty one seventy four and so that means they have they have six positions have been vacant for over two years so it were back to the same topic well reclassify if if for or impose in it's a new program one of this request for some of those. That's the something we go back and look at the thank you thank you Mr chairman thank you Mr secretary. Saying no more questions do I have a motion for executive director. Motion the second any discussion. All in favor aye. Post thank you the generator cation the best pass to this Walgren you're recognized president to number three thank you Mr chair the next request for your record or for your review is the public school funds appropriation for the Department of ed and staff has created this schedule it should be in your packet. If you look at a public school funding the manual they list the appropriations by appropriation numbers so we put together the same appropriations but in alphabetical order just to make it a little bit easier for you all to navigate looking at the schedule on the far left we put the page number where you can find the narrative for each line item. The line item name the actual expenditures and twenty two the authorized in twenty three and then their request with the agency request and executive recommendation and the difference to the right of that so there are three agencies that receive public school funding and those are all include three divisions that receive public school funding and they're all included in this schedule the first is department of ed Public School find which you all are very familiar with the second is the Division of career and technical education and the last one is the state library. If it please the committee all just go over this whole schedule all at once. So the first three pages are the Department of a public school fund account appropriation request and I want to note for the committee that we have highlighted members if that if I didn't right and like to tell you the sheet with the Green on it is on your desk. Thank you Mr chairman. As Mister chairman just stated that the lines with the green indicate change levels. And I want to know for the committee you can tell there aren't very many green lines and so I just want to reiterate what secretary he said this budget request does not include any adequacy recommendations so this is just the department's first round of budget recommendations prior to the adequacy recommendations just wanna let you all know that so I'll go over the few appropriations with change levels now. The overall appropriation request begins on page fifty five of the manual you can see the public school finder preferred partner that has over seventy appropriations. And there are seven with change levels. On page fifty seven you can see this appropriation includes three point two billion dollars each year. Funding is comprised of public school funding general revenue educational adequacy funding fund balances educational excellence trust funds transit taxes and ten of funds and provides for all this state aid distributed to local school districts. The first appropriation with changes. Is on page eighty five. This is the additional public school employee insurance this is one of the four lines that was combined into one line to provide for all the payments that will now be paid to the employee benefits division to help pay for teacher health insurance as was agreed on by the Education Committee education request to delete this line in the new biennium. An executive recommendation provide to the agency request. Moving down our schedule the next line with change levels is detailed on page sixty one this is the app scanned appropriation abstains mission is to provide a statewide data communication network that connects all public school systems within state in education service cooperatives it provides electronic access for computing services to school districts as well as the accounting software for school districts. This recommendation includes the restoration of one special language pole position with an increase in salary and matching as well as restoration of two hundred thousand dollars in capital outlay this is to provide for unforeseen needs and the executive recommendation provides for the agency request. I also want to note for representative Wooten on the first page of the schedule. Per your question and if you look at it's really small but if you look at row sixteen on page one this is assessment and of course testing this is the testing funding line item and you'll see there's no change level for the upcoming biennium. Yes Sir. So towards the bottom of page one on row thirty three we have the educator compensation reform program as you all know this program was created to help school districts achieve the new minimum salary requirements. But as of now all school districts should be in compliance with this new minimum salary requirements so eighty request to delete this finding line item in the executive recommendation provides for the agency request. Moving to the next page. It's actually on the back I think no I'm sorry that's on mine is just on the second page. We have general facilities funding this is another one of the lines that provided direct aid to EBT and eighty E. S. has combined that funding with the public school employee insurance line so they request you delete this line item for efficiency and executive recommendation provides for the agency request. The next one would change levels is gifted and talented. Eighty request an increase of seventy five thousand dollars for each year of the biennium and this is to help them provide for standardized AP training for school districts. Executive recommendation provides for the agency request. Towards the middle of the second page we also have office of education renewals owns this line item is detailed on page fifty nine of your manual. This is the operation of the education renewals owns which includes a compact between public schools education service cooperatives institutions of higher education. They request one point three million dollars for each year of the biennium and it just include such adjustments for salaries and matching that were made in the previous biennium. Next we have the public school employee insurance line. This is all of the aid that goes to the employee benefits division for the teacher insurance programs there's no change level but I just highlighted that to show you all that this is where all of those lines that were deleted the funding is now with in this line item. The last line item in this particular budget is the supplemental millage wine and this was the final line that was previously given as direct aid to EBT. But it's combined with the public school employee insurance line and they are asking to delete this line for efficiency. So as I stated the total budget request for the Public School Fund for eighty is three point two billion dollars is an overall changeable D. decrease of fifty nine million and this is because of that removal of the educator compensation reform program. On page for all just quickly go over the Division of career ed. The Division of career at has for appropriations that receive public school funding and that amount totals thirty two point nine million dollars annually. It is their vocational. Senator aid start up grants coordinated career education services and career coaches programs they had to appropriations with change levels for this section this fund the first one is on page one oh seven. This is for the coordinated career education services you'll see the appropriation amount is the same but they're requesting to re allocate. Money from grants and aid to conference and travel to allow staff to attend national conferences in the executive recommendation provides for the agency request. The next appropriation is career coaches it's detailed on page one oh nine. Edward request to re allocate general revenue from their high tech scholarship program. And general revenue in the amount of ninety five hundred dollars for each year the biennium. And this is to absorb a program that has ended and executive recommendation provides for that request. And the final request is your last page of your schedule this is for the state library's aid to libraries it is detailed on page two oh six of the manual. You'll see the previous appropriation amount was five point seven million dollars in public school funding and this is the direct aid that goes to all the local libraries around the state it also provides scholarships to librarians around the state. The state library requesting an increase of four point three million dollars annually and this is to provide additional support to local libraries and to award more scholarships. And the executive recommendation provides for the agency requests an appropriation. With general revenue funding at five point six million dollars for each year the biennium so Mr chaired this covers the public school funded proprioceptive department of ed career ad in the state lottery. Thank you Miss Waldron of got few questions of the representative Cavenaugh your first. Thank you Mr chair of my questions gonna be on page sixty one. if you can look at your operating expenses. It's got it jumped around is like nineteen point six million then you're requesting twenty five point two million what makes up that operational expenses. So the cost of our broadband that we pay for districts is we accelerate and increase the speed then there's increased cost so that I know that's one component of that. one of Greg if you have any. I know that was a that was a pretty significant increase of that remember what that was because your it's all like six million over what your speed and this is all we're paying six million dollars more for broadband. I don't know if it's the top I don't know if that's the total we'll find out I know that was an increase of over. FY twenty two. That was okay if you can it's all brought them but it was ideias bill that that increase was in there but I I can get the bill have we pay those opportunities yeah yeah I ask that if you don't mind okay thank you. Thank you senator Chesterville your next yes at. I have a question of the Department share that may asking and had been extended to the Arkansas juvenile trick assessment treatment center and other of those centers that deal with our incarcerated use use is that still are they still a part of the system. We have not made any changes to that I mean when you ACT scan kind of covers a whole range of things so we is there anything specific part of it thank you for we had it put in it will take weeks to send information between the facilities and the schools okay and so we were able to put that in but it's been some time ago and so I'm just wondering if it's still a part of the system so that we can have the free flow of information between those are keys or in cars rated and going back into the regular school okay I know I know that that has been improved over the last several years let me check to see the status of that make sure that it's still moving along the way we need to all right thank you and the other question is we did find under Kimbrell when he was Department of it to get equal funding for our kids or incarcerated because they were being paid at a lower rate they were the the the band and then the other folks at the teachers but the amount of money per student was lower than the amount of money per student in regular public schools so I'm just interested to see whether or not we have continued that so that our kids are incarcerated we'll have certified employees that sort of thing that's what allowed us to do it. They they do have certified employees me that that work has continued we'll check to see the status of that as well for you Senator yes ma'am. Senator Stubblefield you're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman. Secretary of got a couple questions concerning the education co ops how many education Cooper we have. We have fifteen are they. Is there Budget lumped in with the total education department budget that they're they have a line item in the. School Fund. So they want okay yes what is that what is their budget. We fund the fund right line. Okay a six point one two nine million that's it that's all fifteen of that's their yes that's a regular line item and then there's also a one point two million dollar line item that to we used to pay their for their tech coordinators okay how many how many employees are employed by the fifteen coops. I don't have the answer that senator I I would have to check to see how many so you don't know how much we're paying the court that you employees plus the six may. No Sir I don't have that that I would like to know that number we get that because that's not their only source of funding of the coops by their nature they set up consortia to help all the member districts and their co op do things is for cost savings purposes and so depending on the coop they may have different fee structures where those members schools pay in but that doesn't go through us so we'll we'll get that information for you this the sixty to seventy million a year for this call up sound in the ballpark. It is possible okay I I wouldn't want to give a firm figure on that till we go back and look at them okay thank you senator king thank you Mr chairman. You don't have any oversight review that at the would be limited at best but if there's anything specific that we can I want to continue on the testing on only assessment of of end of course testing you you spent thirteen point seven million then you're asking for twenty million or your budget was twenty million you're continuing that. Then I want to tie that in with the with the question of it and risk. What what are we just spending one point four million on children at risk and we're spending fourteen million to test when it will know what they're at risk but but but the question is there any other testing that the department does. Like self improvement here's what I'm here Mr Kitty. I'm hearing that the self improvement testing that each district is doing with their students they do the quarterly or. Two three times a year and is not jiving with what this twenty million dollars or thirteen fourteen million dollars were spent in and that's where we're getting all the bad publicity like we have in the paper this morning on the front page so is that true are the the I'm hearing that the students are showing percentages of improvement that are much better than that of the tests that we pay thirteen million dollars for if that's true why is that happening in wine or we spend fourteen million on a test it shows we're doing poorly when we've got a self improvement proven fact from the teachers in the classroom and from those school districts themselves the say we're doing much better is there a difference there there is a difference and just to be clear so just for awareness are ACT aspire which is the state assessment that's seven and a half million of this money to the first point you made about why we're asking for the the twenty so we added through legislative action in twenty one session work keys which is an assessment to that is it's through ACT but it's a it's it's. Our focus tennis has a curriculum but it's so a lot of work based in career technical based and it's through our CTP Division that was five point four million so that that thirteen million reflects of an aberration of so we really can't look at that for FY twenty two FY twenty three it's going to be closer to twenty million. but it is different so. We since COVID we have paid for districts for K. through eight two you know under statute we have K. three to required a testing through the year and we expanded that for K. through eight so districts could know what how other kids were doing and it's optional they can use that or they don't have to K. three two they do have to they could be showing growth and and a lot of times that's what those assessments measure is is growth so student could be growing through the year but they ACT aspire looks at where they are comparison to the standard so they're Cheatham all right so they may not be at that level of achievement but they may be growing through the year which is what we want to do but eventually we want them to get to where they're achieving at the grade level so there there are differences follow up on that yes Sir in a nice I see what you're gonna see the point that you're making but you also to a stone of vital point two million testing and that is this at that point in time that student could I have a sickness could have been killed because without feeling good on that test today in addition to that you could have a home situation that is not conducive to a learning environment and then he goes and takes a test the next day because I've I've had I've had. Players come to me and say look. My mother and my mother and her boyfriend got into it last night he ran me off and I slept in my car available if that young man is tested that day I guarantee he's going to or poorly but my question is would we not be better to look at in the end will more concise look at the test results as they are growing because they definitely they're showing achievement but only at one point in time on that one test that one day is is tough is it not it is and that's why as part of our we are in the process of developing an assessment that will replace the ACT aspire we presented on this to ensure your committee we're working on it and one of the component and all everything you said has been feedback we received from teachers during the process is so we want the new assessment system to be more flexible to account for those types of situations and even looking at some some options of how that measure of growth and and achievement are are more accurate okay. One question on the inflationary spiral in construction cost you know we had discussions with you and The facilities board about eighty million dollar shortfall is that are we going to cover that or you all deal with that well I thought we will deal with it which is a tax break but it goes on the back burner never came up with the district's although you improved the cost one two hundred school dollars a square foot to two seventy five but are you gonna go back to those that have been funded and now they find that there for five or ten twelve million dollars or is that are you are going to cover that in this session that's not part of what we've submitted no Sir because that's been in conflict in the discussion with the education committees and so none of the recommendation from education committees are reflected in what we submitted okay so that's gonna be a totally separate master okay I have one more. May have professional development funding did you changes or did we changes where that money could be used for anything for any professional development because I'm getting feedback from some of the math teachers that that money is being used and when they get ready to go ahead one share with me that she spent a thousand dollars of her own money to go to receive professional development over the summer because of the fact that her district had used the money elsewhere I'm not being critical of the districts but did we change that was that money designated for professional development in mathematics and then did we change that did we as a legislature did you change that no Sir there would not have been any changes the professional development funding is is unrestricted so when districts get that they is that how they feel they can use so it wasn't just wouldn't give it to them restricted for just mathematics correct okay thank you thank you Mr secretary thank you Mr. Senator Hammer you're recognized thank you Mr a couple questions requip would you expect that with broadband going out as much as it is that over time that the accessibility to school subsequently the cost to the schools that you referenced while ago would eventually come down. Or is that something will be a building costs going on from here on out. You know I will I would hope so but I think it's going to be a built in cost of. Because the other factor is as soon as you meet one standard for speeds than the standard increases and because the content of the the judge said amount of content that is access now and I don't expect that we will see a settling of that we might hope hope we do but again a lot of that spending on the contracts at the I. S. a negotiates with the providers okay and on the coop subject matter do they carry their individual balances within your budget or does each co op have their own budget and would they therefore have carry forward funds or you know cash funds that we would want to look at their balances or do you have that in your budget that's not in our budget I will say that a number of years ago we we we can review their budgets and we get that information or review their balances and get that information for you one thing that we noticed after I got to the Department is there had been a practice of putting money at the co ops in the form of grants from the department and we still do that I mean there there been a critical partner we issue grants to them for personnel for rice training minimum our major initiatives we issue grants for for their support to those districts in their area what what we what we found was that they were going to money being for lack of better word being stashed there to co ops and probably the six seven years ago we noticed what was happening and we put a stop to that practice so yeah we as far as what we have been tried we have tried to be more diligent in looking at how we manage our funds with respect to the coops we even brought in a internal auditor at that time to help us with that process. Not just that but a number of internal audit functions but that was one of the drivers of of us adding that position several years ago could you give me the fund balances of each of the calls have. A. as they're in for it would help us if we knew by. A date of by which I mean that as of today or as of end of fiscal year or let's get it let's get it as of Let's get is two weeks from now thank you bill time to do it if we could before thanksgiving about that okay that work yes thank you and then the libraries needing funding of the school funds if I understood that right it's like we're budgeting through your budget to schools who in turn give that money to local libraries did understand that right. Or did I misunderstand the. Senator hammer that funding is administered by the state library and it's based on a formula and the State Library since that funding directly to the local libraries as determined by their eligibility. Why is it in your question in the education budget that's what need help understanding yes Sir. That was just part of the schedule that I created but I just covered all of the public school fund for all three of the divisions so that that particular line is administered by the state library it's found. Later in the budget vote but just for your ease I went over all three sections at once okay less less questions on the agenda you Senator out there RT a standalone charter school my mistaken on that they're not under another school district there there are standalone school right they yet another charter school the but they are a school right and so. They're up but they does employees I know I know this but I'm just clarify and make sure I'm right those employees so are not employees of the state employees of rite of passage that has the contract to run the facility out there is that correct. Or do you know. I had I do not know the answer that Senator would find out okay what we're leading with is the the line seventy. One. The teacher retirement matching. With those employees centers teachers Richey testified while gore certified teachers. Would they qualify for the teacher retirement matching. It's on the green sheet to sheep that chanted out Page three. Yeah I don't think we have the same sheet but we're we're it was one U. hold up while ago staff which hold it up. He or something. So that we paid that teacher retirement goes for those out loud in law for service co us vocation centers if your skills and a school operated by the department of corrections that's what that line items for so. I don't think we do but I had to find out where those those employees are so I don't know enough about that contract with Alexander right of passage okay let's just offline conversation so what I mean they are they are certified teachers I'm just free they're not getting treated equal as if they were in any other school district and will have offline conversation thank you. Representative back you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair of. I'm a back to seven and just have some question concerning the testing I understand you said that ACT X. by kai tells me where I'm at and then this the other testing that we do tells me that I'm advancing the students advancing or whatever so I mean the obvious question and I may be trying to. Compare apples oranges or something here but if I know where you're at today this year and I know how you advanced when I know where you're at. At the end of that year I mean. The area under some sense if I was OK we're testing to see if we advanced. All right how much would Bastin you knew where I was last year so would you know where I'm at this year if you know how much I meant well at the I think they do I think the difference is the the interim testing occurs through the year and gives you that progression you know it's a progress monitoring but that ACT aspire is is says where you are today how you're performing against that grade level standard you may be growing you may be. Seeing great growth towards the standard during the year. But at the end of the year you may not quite be there at that level of of proficiency that and that's what the city is firewood we capture it if I make just a quick follow up but you understand my concern is is if let's say that I have met the ACT aspire at my grade level last year I was admitted and your advancement program testing shows that I'm advancing along just fine with that he either something's wrong with your advancement testing or I should be you could almost say I'm one possibility at with ACT expired because I'm advancing a law and I was I was caught up at a two year. My my concern is this it's not just from a financial standpoint but it's also from the standpoint of you know testing testing can you hear that a lot just to be test test test test so it seems to me that the combination of the two would give you a great opportunity to look at at really where the students are whether The advancement testing that you're doing is actually showing advancement or not at and vice versa so I would challenge you look at that because there's a lot of money being used for testing and plus there's a lot of time student time and talk about this being used for that for this testing that you know. Same to you here's senator state discussing indicate that that You don't bill. Matveyev ACT expire yeah you can have a bad testing down understand that but your basket should show that that child just had a bad as to what it might show I mean the the the ACT aspire has four levels of. Good good show you where that child is so you know it could be if they're close which you know is means that if if they're rated as close if that's where they scored and they're not there sometimes are meeting the grade level expectations but it's not consistent over time the different questions I may get one question right to me another question wrong that deals with that same standard mass standard or English standard so but what everything you said is feedback that we received and how we are looking at developing this this next system where there would be more of a you aware that the The New assessment would have components of an interim assessment through the year that would be more aligned with where we the expectations for that child or to at the end of the year right now we have with K. two assessment which is required the nurse for different types of or there for different providers that districts can select from the by station NWEA a couple of others so they're different than the ACT aspire and it's just within the last couple of years that we've expanded that due to COVID so that they could get K. through eight and look at all of their students if they choose to not all districts use that tool but but that's something that would everything you said everything represent Wooten said those are things that are being considered as we move forward with an assessment. Thank you. Represent Springer recognized. Thank you Mr chairman Secretary key op Mr if you allow me up I think I have several questions in there instead of asking compound question I just want to ask one of the time so if you if you adult I'm on the phone budget matters yet yes Sir it is going to be on budget I am looking at your appropriation sheet for the different upon of programs that you would like to have appropriated. And on here I'm trying to see if PLC's your professional learning communities are there any a part of this request. What I've what line items that. That's in the professional development line item. Four four pages that. Over. Representative Springer that's on page two or page two if you go down to row on the left hand side row fifty one. That's included in the total for the professional development funding line at thirty seven point one million thirty okay and and I guess my follow up question would be of the thirty seven million how much of that is for the PLC's. Yes sixteen point five million six okay so the reason why I ask these questions is I'm trying to find out whether or not the department has identified certain programs that you all have evaluated and determined that they will address the needs of the students within the state so that they can read on grade level and be proficient in math so that's what I'm trying to determine so have you all identified in the programs and I think early on this year we heard about the PLC's and it allegedly received rave reviews so I'm trying to determine are there are all the programs that you're making the rich appropriation requests for that will address the needs of the children of the state so I would just like that have the answer to that question we're not asking for additional funding appropriation for some of those we're looking at what how we've been spending funds and brie allocating you know we've we've stopped doing what wasn't working and let's do what is working one of the big initiatives that we have in both math and literacy is high quality instructional materials and the professional development that goes along with that so there for math and literacy we have established Arkansas it reports it's a website that districts can go on to and see of that the publishers have submitted their curricula to us we've rated those we've looked at those compared those to the Arkansas standards and we've given them rating similar to a program that Louisiana has done for several years now that helps districts helps guide districts in what how to buy or where to look for effective curriculum supplemental materials and intervention programs and that's a that's website that is active now what is it called again it's it's R. H. Q. I am high quality instructional materials. And there's been a staff development with the different staff across the state yesterday give me pride is this is Commissioner learning services leads that work and we can get as many details as you want about okay our doctor practice good okay I'll yes do you have a follow up with me I'd love to hear about okay thank you. Representative what you're recognized. Mr secretary out of a I will pursue just for a second the is at risk of could you do you although the number of students that were funding that was at one point four million do you you know the number of students that were were funding in that. And do you know the number of students in districts that you all have taken control of the. The fall under that the hello being funded. So that at risk amount. Greg correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that was grants that are issued to help approved put on ACT but caps or ACT prep programs for students that are at risk it's a. College career readiness program planning grants so that's what that money goes to its so let's do that at risk and we couldn't and we do know from year to year how many students participate in those so we can get that for you okay so just one more of that. So we're teaching the test. So tell me well you can't really teach the ACT well it helped prepare them I don't know what to expect to try the approval so as to cause yesterday because he's at risk students typically do not have access to you know they don't their parents are providing I can't provide the ACT books or the other prep programs online I'd like to have the total number yesterday and then I'd like to have with the those that are in districts that are in financial distress we'll get that for you thank you yes thank you Mr. Senator you're recognized. Thank you thank you Mr secretary key I. All up budgetary lane we would think about all the money we do spend on testing I know some of it we have controlled on some we don't but I'm just curious and some of the more elite. I guess is a better word as a word for it private schools in our area in our state. If you have enough if you have interaction with them or can do you know what can you find out how much testing do they do compared to the testing that we do you have any idea about that. I I don't Senator we we did not have a way with the only thing that we know from the private schools those participate and succeed scholarships at their end of. Your assessment and it could be the set ten it could be a number of things yeah I I'm I'm thinking in terms of it may be something that could be helpful to us and I the the. No Shiloh Christian's in the past couple and PA and that the schools on on that kind of level because I know in so many cases they're not spending money on testing and I suspect a large part of it is the advantage with which they come to the schools I don't know that for sure that what they typically say is we spend our time educating kids not testing I kids I don't mean specifically both schools and this is something I think will be interesting to know to see if it could be instructive to us and and anyway and if if if it's not a matter it could be a matter of it would be instructive to us to understand background as a matter of a to achievement of what it may come test wars or whatever I know it's a big deal when it comes up to SAT and ACT scores for college and whatnot but I'm just really not wondering. If they're not spending a lot of money on testing that might help redirect some of the ways we find out what we are finding to try to. Bring up a cheetah achievement because we talk so many times about you know we're bringing everything to the school house door and say fix it there I suspect they're not any kids in those schools who are homeless hungry or in need of the things so many of our kids do need so they can spend more time on educating their kids if you have a good relationship with them and that might be some some information and can get and I'm really serious about that is I think the committee comparison the combined the contrast need to be at thank you okay would you agree. I forgot this is a question sorry about that do you think that would be helpful or instructor could be helpful in you we reduce the hours of testing you know we've now ACT spires forty six hours been what grade level you're at and with some we'll test it was eight plus so as far as a time now the number of tests to the year you know some of that is I do know there are districts that choose to assess. Things that are beyond what the state requires. Now how that compares and private schools I don't know but we'll certainly take a look see if there's anything out there that could help us inform us on that okay thank you thank you Mr chair thank you saying no more questions I have a. Sixty rec motion for. Public School Fund I have a motion and second on favor I. Posed thank you Miss World in your present to public school academic facilities and transportation. Thank you Mr chairman the division of public school academic facilities and transportation begins on page eighty seven of your manual. This division is responsible for administering programs state financial participation in support of academic facilities assisting all school districts with general academic facilities support providing oversight of their construction repair and maintenance of both their academic and non academic facilities on public school campuses in the state and they administering conduct school bus safety inspections and driver training programs the Department appropriation summaries on page eighty eight. And they have appropriations totaling two hundred and eighteen million dollars each year they have thirty one positions authorized and five extra help the only appropriation with any changes is the public public school academic facilities appropriation is on page ninety of your manual this provides for the operation of the facilities partnership program as well as their division staff. Program oversight. And implementation of the programs the total request is two point nine million dollars for each year and this appropriation includes adjustments to salaries in matching that were made in the previous biennium and they're just requesting to continue those adjustments the executive recommendation provides with agency request. The other appropriation is on page ninety two. This is the academic facilities partnership program appropriation this provides for the state's financial participation of awarded projects to districts and they request for a continue appropriate continuation of appropriation it to her two hundred and fifteen point three million dollars for each year of the biennium executive recommendation provides for that request thank you Mr chairman. Thank you the representative love you're recognized. Thank you Mr action just accidentally hit my button but I will ask questions and from now Little we don't want you to feel obligated. Hahaha. Mr secretary just looking and and this portion of the budget. Let me ask Nicks now. Have we assessed all our facilities for the actual needs they have a meeting. Walk me through walk me through the process of of actually how we come up with these figures how it in in half relates to the needs that we have of our facilities. So we do have an annual inspection program and so I would have to get how many districts are how many buildings get inspected each year but it's their own rotation. The so that goes into this part of the data that we look at the most of the data that we go by go comes from their facilities master plans and that submitted by the districts and updated regularly they identify what their needs are and then we we. They submit projects to us for review based on their facilities master plans and then they're assessed based on their prioritized based on the need based on the wealth index that they have and in funding the end is allocated to give me a very rough description of of that process we have not conducted a mail back in two thousand four two thousand five there was a comprehensive review where people teams won out to every building in every district across the state that has not been done in recent years there been of reviews but the part of the the meeting of adequacy was to establish that regular inspection process and we've also we've made that more efficient now we can get around and do more of the each year because we built my dad electronic we made the recording of that process electronic we taken from a paper based system to a of a tablet based system and so now we're getting around seeing more districts seem more school buildings each year okay so and then so are we going to have a grading scale for those those schools. So if there is a so in the yes I mean there is not a grading scale as like eight F. but there is a looking at the longevity of a building that's left you're looking at reflecting at the major systems they they do assess the life expected life of the building and that goes into the the ratings in that we're going to we're we gonna we're we will direct our funds because I mean I think this is in thinking about it. I would I would just assume that we would have a grading scale in the reason why I say grading scale is because if the schools and health I mean we do it academically so I don't know why we wouldn't do it in looking at the fiscal structure but if a school isn't enough now means that schools in high need of whatever repairs of. Replacement or whatever so I would just assume that we can do the same thing so that we can make sure that the schools that are in most need get the sense that they need. Well I mean the does not not make I mean I think with I think we have something very similar it's it's just not as simple you know at the rate in this site is in a eight F. but we do have now is something that's new from the last session statewide needs list that also helps us prioritize so that gives us the more refined look at districts that you maybe you know I have in mind or yeah I can think of one Brinkley you know they they have high school they they are really in need of additional new facilities and through the statewide needs list you know they're gonna be looking at possibly having higher priority because of their needs in comparison to others in the state. Okay our I would I would so when do you all plan on beginning this this the statewide assessment since it's in process now I mean it is it is constantly in process we are working with districts now for the twenty three twenty five construction sought partnership cycle we're still working with districts on the twenty one to twenty three partnership cycle so this this cycle never really stops we just go from one cycle to the next and would there the process is ongoing that helps provide support to districts in looking at what their needs are I will say that a lot of district needs have been addressed recently with the use of the the ESR funds okay especially when we're looking at HVAC systems roofs and those types of things that could have an impact on air quality so would we've had a number of improvements around the state with that in the U. I will publish a report on this there's a condition in a report that comes out every year I think that was submitted October one okay I'm check on that C. all right thank you thank you share. Thank you senator Stubblefield you're recognized. Thank you Mr Senate secretary key. What is it what is the criteria for determining when a school bus needs to go. How do you determine that. Well there's a bus school bus manual and I don't have that one memorized senator so I'll have to get somebody from the age of her from the division to help with that but I do know there are criteria that basically says you're you're go or no-go bus inspections every year as well is that is that disposal of those school buses is that left entirely up to each school district yes yes so they determine whether they can either crush the bus or put it up for bid and sell it. Well they have to dispose of it by the means of that are provided for by statute thank you can't just give it away or anything like that I mean they no I don't like it they could put it up for bids make it sold to scrap but they would put it up for bids because I can drive it up to northwest Arkansas and ever crushed. I'm not sure about I'm not sure about that part I think they they have to dispose of it through a bidding process I'm not aware of of of any questions but if that's happening we'll check it out. I would like to know the answer to that because I have. Several I have several of school people has told me that they're taking buses Northwest Arkansas leaving them running pulling them in and crushing them while they're still running. So I'm if that's the case we need it we need to look into that I would agree and that's something we'll check out I'm not heard that and I would also I would also like to know what the disposal process is what the schools go by what criteria they use to determine whether that bus is no longer a real capable of carrying kids safely. Yeah that we will get that to you make sure that I know that's one of the big jobs of of our transportation department is inspecting buses to make sure the road worthy and and say for students well there's a lot of there's a lot of public out there that would love debate on these buses in the school you get something out of one. Yes this taxpayers paid for those buses right thank you Sir thank you Mr. Representative would you're recognized thank you Mr secretary home page a ninety. The show's of thirty employees on the report I got from. are endless analysts on the personnel committee we don't so the total budget anything for any salaries. Is it we're we're they've been paid out of. Home page please sign in yeah I semi we've we've got we're showing one point seven four million. Request for salaries we're where is that money coming out. Is that is that funded. What what is this report told you know what this report shows zero budget. Only in. Gives it a chase showing issues one is not budgeted but the next question is Page ninety two. You requested the two hundred and eleven million continuing or two hundred fifteen million and we only awarded sixty one million is that totally funded two hundred fifteen million yes for that reflects in because as I was mentioning before there's a cycle. and the we don't spend all that money in one fiscal year because of the nature of school construction so there are projects that have been committed to that we still have funding allocated for and we have to have that appropriations so that we can so you already make okay we have those those be approved and funded projects next question on average how many do you funding each year. Who's also a list back. In the fiscal session where we have sixty or seventy million dollars of buildings that were on Fund. Well I would have to get the number from Mr came but we have funded all of the projects that are in the cycle we just recently because. Give me an example of the district doesn't pass its millage then it can't meet its a local match requirement then it may receive in their project for that cycle that frees up state money that we can go down the list and then award additional schools funding and just he was last week the commission met and so at this point we have funded all the projects for the cycle that have been submitted so if if we continue funding it if we continue funding at sixty one million we've got four years roughly if if if a celebrity well I mean I I it doesn't really take into account inflation issue that was addressed earlier so that this are you up we just is not that a moment ago are you all going to address that in the session well we we're in conversations with other members in the Senate yes education house education yes Sir. So I'm how many request do you receive that year. total number requests You know Tim Mr Kean asked we need to be here I set aside yes you do we'll get that for you I would what I would want to yes if you're wrong answer that is rich of number request a ward yes then the average request that you see. We get that for yes that's something that we really don't attract I just don't have it with us thank you. Representative back you're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman this this might be a reference or for request I don't know I would be surprised if we had a soft top. But you know there's been some things that we've done in this is energy related things where we've had these companies come in and and not offer to finance and improvements at. The supply the funding for improvements that have typically air handling units sometimes but seller in some of these places and things like that and I was wondering have you guys seen any Negative effects I'm not negative negative budget process as a matter of fact that these companies are going and doing improvements are our school districts that we would normally have to like an air handling system that we would be these. Scheduled to be replaced has now been replaced by a more efficient unit these people are doing I just want that's had any positive effects as far as to the schools. Well it's. It's hard to say at this point because you've got some districts that have gone and Health they've. They partnered with organizations on solar I mean that's that's kind of a big thing right now that and you know I I think it's going to take a few years to see if the promises of that will actually come to fruition in the budget I mean I know there's some districts that are really hoping to see some energy savings because of what they're producing from there seller banks and and so fields the. The the improvement with HVAC air handling that sort of thing that that has not been done recently for efficiency as much as it has been for air changeover student the code issue so it's hard to say at this point if what we're saying or if we're going to see anything that has tangible impact on on budgetary issues with the schools. Thank you. Especially now with the fuel prices and energy prices going up I mean I don't know that we're offsetting from efficiencies with the increases were seen in. I just feel did you have a question would you like to offer a motion I it's proper time. Big recognized second all in favor aye opposed thank you for that Senator just feel. Number five career and technical education this wall and you're recognized thank you Mr chair moving to page ninety three of the manual this is the Division of career and technical education this division is responsible for administering public secondary vocational technical training programs across the state the Division appropriation summary is on page ninety four as you can see there funded with federal revenue public school funds educational excellence trust fund transfers and inter agency transfers as well as general revenue special revenue and cash they have nine total appropriations. That total fifty five point one million dollars each year they have forty four authorized positions you have already reviewed four of the appropriations under the Public School Fund schedule and their three remaining with change level requests the first one is on page ninety seven it is the high tech scholarship program this is a program that's being phased out and the last eligible student for this program should be completing their career in FY twenty three so the last payment will go out in this fiscal year the Division request to discontinue this appropriation and executive recommendation provides for the request. The next appropriation with change levels is on page one of three. This is their vote tech administration operations appropriation in this provides for the administration of the entire division the total appropriation is three point three million dollars for each year and it includes a couple of changes they request the restoration of two special language pool positions with associated increases in salaries and match and they also request one position title change and the transfer of two positions to the shared services appropriation executive recommendation provides for the agency requests with the exception of the title change which is placed on hold for review by the new administration. The next appropriation with changeable is the federal vocational education operations appropriation on page sixty four. This is federal funding also for the Votic. Operations programs. The agency request totals eighteen point eight million dollars for each year of the biennium. And this appropriation includes the transfer of one position in from the state appropriation. Excuse me actually includes no change levels but adjustments to matching and executive recommendation provides for the agency request. The last appropriation with change levels is on page one twelve this is the camp couch Dale appropriation. This was one time funding received by the Division of career and technical education to make improvements for an agriculture mechanics lab at camp couch Dale however the funds are now spent and so the division is requesting to discontinue this appropriation executive recommendation provides for the agency request thank you Mr chairman. Thank you. Of. Can you tell me or is adult it in this. Not in this office we're we're is adult in on our agenda. Included. That would be reviewed rate is already been reviewed under the division of workforce services okay. your reference was there a recommended increase from executive. Four don't. I don't have that information but I'm glad to get it back to you and submitted to the committee. Secretary no Sir we don't have anything okay check for the thank you. Your question my co chair Richey Wardlaw you're recognized thank you Mr. Sit here all morning and watched and listened in awe I thought we had a guy hired over the department head for legislative liaison David Braskem and he has yet to be at the table to answer questions about your guises budget so I'm wondering from the taxpayer's perspective what we pay him for. And yes secretary you are required to answer these questions to liaise with legislators and Committee members and superintendents around the state. So where is it. I don't know where he is right now. My point exactly asing someone. Just for the record I did same in person committees more representative will you're recognized. Mr secretarial Page seven of the manual. Of those ninety five hundred dollars scholarship program and we spent five hundred dollars there's nothing budgeted what and and with all the high tech needs out there what. Well as a program news forum while we're doing away with. Well there are a number of other scholarship programs now that are available the that would fill the what this one had done but so you know all the all the people that were in that program I think we have one left and it's in that person's going to be extinguished program so we're just doing away with that line item because it's no longer necessary. Or you could the position are you doing away there's no position or so okay yes one of. On page ninety nine. What is this vocational start of grants we are we. Authorized four point seven we budgeted two three seven and you spent. Two point three one nine what what is the. So those are grants to districts that help to purchase equipment for start up programs and of I think I saw Ross is here Mr Ross why HR director he can come up in. give you a further explanation of that but usually we have more applications than what we have funding for for those so Go if chairman chair of your mission I missed what kind or the. Is final for local schools yes start up grant for a new start up for Quitman or something if they're starting up a program and that they don't currently have. Do we ever hear. Please recognize yourself. Ross what the director for the Division of current technical education site here last question I was sitting down I'm sorry well present a specific number or what what we know now this local districts or leased those are nationally do how many do we have a year I'm one means a berries year to year I'm so actually the application process close for this current year November first we had a hundred and forty five applications I'm for this current year the struck the funding structures actually based around what we call our minimum equipment so for a program for them to implement a program we have a list of equipment that is the expectation the district has we do the funding based off the grants give eighty five percent of the funding the district has to put in fifteen percent of the funding and so typically we have awarded out I'm just kind of give you some numbers so in FY twenty we had sixty eight that we were able to find eighty one we were unable to find I'm in twenty one sixty eight that were funded twenty that run funded in twenty two fifty eight that were funded and sixty six that were under funded in the current year we were able to use our state start of dollars but also I'm using some additional funds with the S. R. finds that we've had available we've been able to award more for the current year that relieving and but we've been about half that we have for more than half that have been they have gone unfunded just because of we only have that two point three million that's there so you'll also notice I think you mentioned that the dollar amount that I think with the actual was the two point three million three one nine zero zero eight I'm so we award that to the districts and then they spend obviously sometimes with that equipment we have districts that have things that happen in their not able to spoolie spend the amount or sometimes we have grants returned to us because when they submitted that application you know that your prior and things happen order superintendents come in and the money is and returned to us and not actually use that sometimes we see the full allocation not being spent so you're how many do. Did you say you're receiving you're I'm inside this year we received a hundred and forty five I can say based off the history they've all been rewarded. We were able to award I mean in the range of sixty eight and twenty sixty eight and twenty one fifty eight and twenty two and then sixty four the Currier on on page one thirteen Mr thank you Page one thirteen camp that state of we have a we authorized two point five two million is that funded yes yes okay so we didn't spend anything with budgeted thirty thousand and we've got fund balances of twenty nine thousand so that there's nothing out there in the agency the main no request. It was an is that a is that a What what is Kim K. no well you know I can't remember what it is refresh my memory it's a F. FFA okay well okay two transformers okay what why how come we're not funding it within spent any money out there and then what do we need to point five. Will represent look what we're doing away with that was appropriation was given to help renovate the can't count still of a building on a camera with the day of the building was done but is that bathrooms as a classroom down there for the camp out still any I'd given is one time of receipt reserve funds that we came we got for the two point five million dollars and we've we've worked with can't cast over the past four years to send that money out and we finish that program with actually the agency may not down at all two point five yes Sir all right thank you Mr chairman thank you. Senator Hammer you're recognized. Thank you Mr on the subject of the current technical grants that you're talking about a while ago what was the dollar value or do you have the dollar value of the grants that were not awarded because you didn't have the funds to award. So I can't give you at the moment what that exact dollar amount would be we can tell we can get that information to you but I do not have it with you today okay if you if you don't mind I'd like to get that because then my second question to that would be of the programs that were not funded or are they high skill of programs that have immediate demands in the job market like to welding the plumbers is that what the equipment that they were asking money for would of went to address typically yes I mean our application process is based off our proof programs of study that we have within our programming that you know we follow within our state Perkins plan that we submit obviously when we do our applications we have a rubric that we use obviously the largest piece of that represents looking at that high skill high wage high demand peace to ensure that the program so we are helping implement are ones that are going to fill the needs that exist within those communities in the work force area but obviously it lines to any program of study in which we offer within the area of current technical education okay an onion and Cody over there at of whatever agency he is with I know there's I would say overlapping but complementing of attempts to develop the you know the facilities equipment so. Maybe maybe you can answer this question want to give it to the guy to the left you to answer this question but what I'm wondering is when that number comes back is this the time the for much as much discussion as there is a short of the demand as their or short of a work supply employee supplies areas is this nine we need to step up and bite the bullet shall we get the schools he quipped because I know some of the feedback I get from some schools specially in diesel I mean they're working on acquitting the twenty years old and it's worthless when they come out of for the most part is this the time we need to step up and and just when by double as we get the schools equipped and and get that need met. Yes. I mean that was added but you will be deliberate I will of that that's why you see the the the this budget reflects an increase you know we we don't want to we want to avoid the overlap if you will I was going to be some between of what's offered at at the high schools what's offered at the secondary centers means that there's bound to be some level of overlap there but what that creates is is kind of a the network of opportunities for students and the the challenge we have is. Making sure that the students one that there are aware of the opportunities in the two that the center's or. The programs at the high schools are equipped with. Up to date modern technology that they'll actually be expected operate once they get out into the workplace so yes I mean this is an area that we feel like we could step up and and do more and that's what we try to reflect in our request but does your request because he you didn't know the dollar amount minute ago and I am I understand that but does this request how far does this request go it meeting that total number of grants that were turned down what's the gap we need Sorvillo for FY twenty three we used an additional one point one million. From a federal funds that was allowable under S. or to to provide additional grants to fund all the requests and we actually got to fund ninety seven toll sixty four were funded with start up grants and thirty three were funded with the additional federal funds so that gives you an indication that it's definitely over a million but I think. The likelihood is a once districts no okay you. They we've had a pen of need we seven applied because we wouldn't necessarily be at the top of the list to get it. If I know there's more out there I think we'll see more districts. Submitting grant applications I mean. Ross you can tell me in the right or wrong on that I would agree I think we definitely have some districts that don't apply just because they know the limited funds that exist there and so they try to work with local business and industry or other mechanisms to figure out how to implement the programs of the best of their ability with the equipment needs they have which are good and powerful sources that the same time I know that that has existed because that findings been kind about that set rate and there hasn't been much adjustment that they know the limited pool that exist okay final thought I do I want you to if you would I'd like to get those numbers so we know what what we've got to go forward and work with children over there shall eliminate that and let's get that before we get into the general session if you would because if I wanna see a school disadvantage specially if they're in a low income area and they just don't have the funds or whatever I would wanna see them disadvantaged of because there's not enough money so if you would will work together on that thank you Mr thank you Sir just feel. It is the. I move executive read. Wrecked motion for career and technical education. A second on favourite bows members are reminded Slevin fifteen we're gonna be out in about one thirty I'll stay as long as you want to next up we have. Department of higher education. This wall in the if you present and we are we're going to have a doctor Markham come up. Thank you Mr chairman the next division for your review is a division of higher education they request begins on page one seventeen the Division of higher education services the administrative staff for the Arkansas higher education coordinating board they also review academic programs they administer statewide financial aid programs and they contract with the S. R. U. B. for support of graduate and first professional study outside of the state the Department appropriation summary is on page one twenty of the manual you can see they have twenty five appropriations that total one hundred and eight million dollars for each year the biennium and eight of those have changed over requests they receive general revenue federal revenue special revenue trust funds in cash funds and have fifty two positions right now I'm going to review the eight appropriations with change level requests. The first appropriation is their operations it's on page one twenty three of the manual this provides for the administrative function functions of the division it is payable by general revenue and lottery proceeds. They request four point two million dollars for each year the biennium and includes the following changes they want to restore one growth pole position and to special language positions with associated salaries and matching they also have various personnel changes including re classifications with no change an appropriation they want to increase extra help by seventy two thousand dollars annually. This is to provide for part time programmers for their new financial aid and application management system. And they want to reallocate three thousand dollars in general revenue from the veterans approving agency this is just for efficiencies they would like to have the state portion of this appropriation brought in under their operations appropriation executive recommendation provides for the agency requests with the exception of the re classifications and associated appropriation the next appropriation with pages with changes on page one twenty seven this is student assistance grants and scholarships. This provides for the board to award financial aid based on academic performance in some programs of financial each financial need. It's funded with a combination of funding sources including general revenue the total request is sixty two point nine five million dollars for each year and this total increase includes a decrease of one point five million dollars each year and this is to remove the H. E. opportunities grant and this is due to phasing out of this program executive recommendation provides for the agency request. The third appropriation with changes on page one twenty nine this is the Tanith. Appreciation this federally funded appropriation totals ten point one million dollars for each year of the biennium. And it provides for the administration and eight of the Arkansas career pathways program. The request for the biennium includes an increase of three million dollars each year. In enrollment and education a new line they've created or in this line item. And this is for supportive services in training at institutions that provide for the career pathways program as well as pilot teen of programs executive recommendation provides for the agency request. The for the preparation with changes on page one thirty one this is eighty AG Scholarship administration. This appropriation provides for the administration of the Arkansas academic scholarship program it is funded with lottery proceeds the total appropriation is one point one million each year and includes the following changes they request to restore one growth pole position with associated salaries in matching. As well as increase their operating expenses by two hundred and fifty thousand dollars annually this is Debra provide for maintenance costs of the new application management system for financial aid executive recommendation provides for the agency request. The fifth appropriation with changes is on page one thirty two it is technical education federal programs this appropriation provides for the administration of the Carl Perkins funding for post secondary portion of the Perkins act funding for career and technical education services the agency request is for five hundred forty seven thousand dollars for each year the biennium this includes an additional one hundred thousand in operating expenses and forty seven thousand annually in professional fees for training programs and that these were previously appropriated through a miscellaneous federal grant so they're just requesting to any great that emoji into their normal federal appropriation executive recommendation provides for the agency request. On page one fifty five. You'll see a veterans approving agency state appropriation this general revenue appropriation provides for the certification of training programs for veterans this is the state match portion and the Division request to discontinue this separate fund center and as I mentioned previously they will continue to provide the same services but they just want to bring this state match into their operations appropriation for efficiency that includes three thousand annually in general revenue executive recommendation provides for the agency request. On page one fifty seven we have veterans approving agency federal. This is the federal portion. Of the veterans approving services that the division provides. The appropriation totals about three hundred sixty one thousand for each year. Their request includes personnel changes including re classifications with no change an appropriation the second recommendation provides for the appropriation but not for the re classifications and those are on hold for review by the new administration. The last appropriation with change levels is on page one fifty eight it is the americorps operations appropriation this provides for the Arkansas americorps program and it's funded with general revenue and federal revenues. The agency request nine hundred ninety seven thought thousand dollars for each year of the biennium and one hundred and seventy thousand and general revenue funding and they request the following changes they would like to continue one miscellaneous federal grant position with associated salaries and matching they have a number of re classifications and upgrades with associated salaries and matching costs. They want to increase extra help at thirty thousand each year with associated matching to integrate an existing miscellaneous federal grant appropriation. And they also want to increase operating expenses by hundred and forty thousand professional fees by two thousand four hundred and grants and aid at fifty thousand each year all for the integration of a previously approved miscellaneous federal grant. Additionally they request an increase in general revenue funding of thirty one thousand in FY twenty four and sixty two thousand FY twenty five this is to meet the state matching requirement for this program. The executive recommendation provides for the agency request with the exception of the re classifications upgrades and the associated appropriation and those are placed on hold for review by the new administration thank you madam chair. All right thank you representative Cavenaugh you're recognized for a question thank you madam chairman thank you my first question is going to be on page one twenty three when you go down to your funding sources you talk about this inter agency fund transfer where does that get transferred to. It's page one twenty three. Rations. Good morning Nick pharmacist and director of finance for higher ed you're you're mentioning the eight million dollar transfer yes Sir that goes to the work force initiative act appropriation which is further down in our preparation section but it does gets transferred out of this okay yes and then my final question is dealing with page one fifty three which is our web based applications you're asking for an appropriation for a million dollars at a general revenue or you're asking for appropriation for a million dollars you're asking for five hundred thousand out of general revenue why are you want one teen an appropriation for double of what you're getting in G. R. and your spend is only been fifty five thousand dollars. Is in in the event that additional expenses are needed for the continued upgrader operations of the the financial management financial aid management portal currently that fifty five thousand I'm I apologize is all that we spend on the the state general revenue matching piece that we pay for it the rest of the funds are paid for from lottery funds. But in any event that lottery revenue is not there to be able to reimburse or that additional expenses need to be incurred to update that portal like we have done over the past two years that's what we request the preparation we're not requesting an increase in general revenue for the program at all I say that but you're asking for an appropriation to stand above what you need in your asking for G. R. it did come out it would have to be G. R. if you ask for it so your store expand those and shall that you're spending that much on that so I guess my question is what justification do you need for having that possibly come back and ask for a half a million dollars in general revenue that you've never spent at work we're not asking for. In addition to general revenue for the program you're asking for a different idea additional appropriation and if it is to be funded it have to be funded through general revenue so if you have an it would be funded through our current revenues that we we already receive if we if we need to spend that funding we said we need to have the authority. From the spending authority to be able to spend in the event that something occurs we would reduce general revenue in other areas of the agency to spend that we would ask for additional funding and what are you expecting to have to do with that we we aren't anticipating anything currently but with with technology. And the upgrades we did just implemented a new financial a portal that went live on October first of this year so it it is possible that other expenses may arise that were not not planned okay thank you I want to speak to this just a little bit because a lot of the changes that the updates in the upgrades that they have made I was part of part of that request because you have so many kids that are trying to go to that Merion school or dental school or higher education that need to be able to have a very good working system online portal to make sure that those those applications get in as soon as possible and that the deadlines are clear and so because those are you know we we actually pay for slots at different veterinarian schools because we do not have a veterinarian program here and then the same with dental schools and so you have got to make sure that those are fully operating websites that they can get all their updates in their information into and and that it's clear for the state students so I I appreciate those that upgrades thank you representa Vaught we needed to spend the money to do that. Thank you madam chair my question is going to be on page one thirty seven. We've got a nursing shortage which we talk about all the time but we have three million dollars set in there for a grant that we've actually looks like never use and it's been passed since two thousand fifteen so why do we have it sitting there. And why haven't we ever used any of this money is spent this appropriation was actually added during the past fiscal session in two thousand twenty one some more it wasn't funded is that what you're telling me yes what was not funded right now it is the the workforce initiative Act of two thousand fifteen yes the same fun and that this would be paid from if additional funds were were added for this program is the same as the eight million that I'm transferring that was ask about previously represent Cavenaugh those funds go to the work force grants okay so can I ask a follow up ma'am yes thank you ma'am so what is the process now that we're going to use to actually disburse these funds out to try to get more people into the nursing field so first we have to get the funds so we're asking for the three million appropriation for that the preparation was approve but we don't have the three billion dollars should we get that we would use the same process we use for our regional workforce grant so all of the schools with nursing programs would be eligible to receive I think was that a hundred fifty thousand dollars each to do whatever they needed to do whether it's increase faculty salaries increase technology so that they can do more simulation of whatever the barrier is in that region for their nursing shortage they could use those funds to address those okay and madam chair may I ask another question yes ma'am and we'll three million dollars even put a dent into what we need. That. No I don't think so. I don't even know where to go with that question now well I I mean I can tell you that we are working we are working with DHS or workman's Division of higher at there is a joint effort of us that we are working through in order to identify exactly where the shortages are so I know for for instance there is a company that has been contracted to do a statewide assessment but it's not just nursing it's also phlebotomist and lab technicians and and really the whole spectrum of allied health care because we have shortages in all those different areas and so there were kind of waiting for that to be done it should be completed by December and I think this is appropriate and appropriate appropriation to have as a as a place holder however they may need to come back and request a different appropriation levels if we use our for funds to be able to find that with which is what we're looking to do so madam chair I have a question for you then how much was the contract to do all of that actually it's that at that is been an independent group that has contracted with it so we're not going to need to use any of this three no they are not acting in ways for that that right so may I ask one other question absolutely so ma'am beings that I've already asked with the three million even put a dent into it which I don't think it will I don't even think it'll get close to what we need. Did you all have a magic number and you just ask for three million just for the placeholder as madam chair suggested or I think that I presented Bentley that really did the right I'd like to work on this this was something that it was a member initiated it was an inspiration and I did speak with a representative Bentley several times about how we would be able to do this quickly and the sal and that was just a number that that she felt comfortable with and it was something that we knew we could we could make a positive impact on the institutions and to do some things in the short term but it's not a long term solution this would be a one time shot me arm for some of these programs to to be able to do something maybe in in one year okay thank you madam Jett yes ma'am thank you for the questions representative waiting you're recognized for questions thank you madam chairman owned Page one twenty three. You have twenty five positions in your plan Seventy thousand and. And then you're requesting two point one million for twenty seven positions as a AS eight thousand dollar in or you raise those salaries it was that in your reclassification. To increase the budget by the. You're going to leverage of seventy thousand twelve average of seventy eight. Thousand. Annually. It. It could be proportion of that but it could also be due to adjustments for for Cola and. It raises as you see for that the current budget year for the same twenty seven positions it's budgeted for two point one five million dollars. Rather than the two point one oh seven that we're requesting for the upcoming. On on page of one twenty five. You of. Budgeted five hundred thousand you spent two hundred and eighty eight your question one million one. One of the five hundred thousand with this what is appropriation is only for grants from mineral lease revenues as they come in so in for fiscal twenty two we only received two hundred eighty eight thousand dollars in mineral these revenues this is just a tag and have a place holder in anticipation that those revenues come in higher okay home page of one thirty one. Of the budget. Was one million. They are for the your actual expended due was one point seven million. And your authorization was seven hundred seventy one thousand what's the answer that was for a one time expenses for the creation of the new scholarship application portal that's one the the expenses were so high for fiscal twenty two. So we would replace the the former scholarship portal that his over eighteen years old that began last year so there is a one time expense on page one page one fifty one there's there's there's several of these I have a three hundred thousand dollar pro rations no expenditures but they're continuing on or loans funded request or of those. Well there is only one of one of there's several of one of the what I'm signing is on page one fifty there there are quite a few of those that we receive the appropriation and prior year and received one time funds to support it so we continue requested the appropriation again in the event that additional funds are given to us but the only expenses were from one time funds that were given in the past okay the home page one sixty without German this is the last one on page one sixty you have a and the American air and you have six positions. The forty three thousand. And. You're requesting three hundred and forty two thousand seven here's my question you have actually authorized two hundred forty eight but you're actually spend two is with two sixty one how did you how did you exceed that budget. We we came to committee and requested by an appropriate less fun thank you thank you to. Yes thank you representative Cavenaugh you're recognized thank you madam chair and I just I forgot to ask this first can I'm going to ask you if you can supply me the same report that I ask education which is basically if you have a report that shows all your fund balances the source of those funds and any restrictions that might be on and whether it's cash general revenues specially that they added that matter thank you. Thank you. Senator Chesterfield. I move executive director I second. Okay. Red represent waiting can you just get with them offline please with your question do you mind okay. Okay. Well wait wait we will you can get with them offline all those in favor say aye. And oppose ayes have executive rack. At. Is approved. Thank you madam chair the next budget for your review also under the division of higher education is for the northwest technical institute. This institute is part of the Division of higher read they are located in Springdale and it functions as a secondary career center providing classes to high school students and they also offer eighteen technical career diploma programs they also serve as an adult education center for the northwest Arkansas area their department appropriation summaries on page one sixty six of the manual they have three appropriations state federal in cash that total thirteen point two million in twenty four and twenty five. They have eighty four positions and one hundred and thirty six extra help positions all three of their preparations have changed levels. The first appropriation is detailed on page one sixty eight this is their state appropriation this provides of the operation it in TI and is funded with general revenue adult and grants received from the division of workforce services in transfer first from the work force two thousand fund. The request totals six million dollars for each year of the biennium and actually the request to seven million in FY twenty five. But the recommendations for six point one million twenty five. The request includes the addition of three positions in FY twenty four and another seven positions in FY twenty five with associated salaries and matching this is to provide additional positions for the growth of their nursing program. They also ask for various personnel changes including re classifications with associated appropriation changes. You'll see an increase in operating expenses of thirty one thousand FY twenty four and sixty thousand and twenty five this is for increased fuel costs for their CDL training program as well as building and contents insurance and they ask for a general revenue increase of five hundred and fifty two thousand and twenty four and one point one million in FY twenty five the executive recommendation provides for the agency requests with the exception of the position additions and changes these are on hold for review by the new administration general revenue is recommended at three point three million for each year the biennium and this is a two hundred thirty eight thousand dollar increase over previous levels the next appropriation is detailed on page one hundred and seventy this is their federal appropriation. This provides for the utilization of Carl Perkins grant funding for their job training programs they request about three hundred fifty thousand dollars for each year of the biennium and this includes salary and matching increases associated with some requested re classifications the executive recommendation provides for the agency request with the exception of the re classifications in the Associated appropriation these are on hold for review by the new administration. The last appropriation is their cash appropriation it's on page one seventy two. This provides for the expenditure of funds received in tuition costs resale from the bookstore and apprenticeship programs and it is used to supplement their general revenue the total request is about six point eight million dollars for each year the biennium. And includes position re classifications with associated salaries and matching they ask for an increase of one hundred thousand operating expenses for their secondary career center programs and they asked to restore capital outlay at two hundred thousand dollars annually this is for equipment expenses for instruction and plant maintenance executive recommendation provides for the agency request with the exception of the re classifications and associated costs thank you madam chair. Thank you representative Cavenaugh you're recognized for a question thank you madam chair my question is going to be a page one seventy two deal with cash operations can you tell me the difference between your line item operating and maintenance and operating expense. I'm sorry could you repeat the question sure on one seventy two you have a line item operating expenses and then you have another one operating and maintenance. Yes that the last year during this exact meeting at that time Senator Eads amended our budget. that we could have the two the two and a half million the and in case additional funds became available for school. Where they to be used for. It would be at that particular time it was to be used for a operating and the. The apprenticeship programs. Okay. Did you have a label is operating and maintenance. Is that because that's a DFA title okay and so these are gonna be for apprentice ships it could be for for the growth and we were we were thanking anticipating at that time doing an apprenticeship program and it did not come to order. Okay so you don't have an apprenticeship program yes yes we do we have but the particular one we were looking at did not come through okay so do you need this appropriation then if you don't have that program. No ma'am okay would it be okay if we reduce that Senator your appropriations and you don't have that program yes okay ma'am I'll make that. At the proper time okay. I will I'll come back to you for a motion represented wooden you're recognized for a question I have a way of. The motion at the time I was trying to figure out how it corporate what the representative Cavenaugh Warren into the motion I guess we just a movement for adoption with the exception of that two point five million this is a satisfactory representative Cavenaugh. Okay. This whole at. Okay representative wouldn't do you mind just pulling that that down I saw us told represent Cavenaugh I'm just gonna come back to her I thought you had a question I apologize. Do what I thought you had a question don't know of us to have a motion at the appropriate time okay well I've already said that to representative Cavenaugh so I'm going to just go back to her for that okay thank you representative Cavenaugh you're recognized thank you madam chair I make a motion that we accept executive recommendation except for a line item operation and maintenance on page one seventy two that we delete that two and a half million dollars. Okay that's proper motion Is there a second. Second all those in favor say aye. And oppose ayes have it motion passes. I did say the nose. Yes I did okay maybe non. Thank you senator. The next appropriation for your review is the. Chesterfield yes what do we do. We got a motion for executive rack and we need to take out the appropriation request under operating and maintenance on page one seventy two it's two point five million the gentleman at the table so that that was not necessary because I was never funded with appropriations with executive rack thank you thank you gentlemen thank you for being here all right moving on thank you madam chair the Arkansas school for the blind appropriation begins on page one seventy three. AS B. provides education and training for all children and young people who are visually impaired throughout the state they provide vocational training residential living extracurricular activities low vision evaluations services physical and occupational therapy life skills training and they also produce. Braille publications and distribute them throughout all the schools in the state department appropriation summary is found on page one seventy four and the manual they have five total appropriations and a request about eleven million dollars for each year of the biennium they have one hundred and four positions. There's one appropriation would change level requests it is the first appropriation their state operations appropriation is detailed on page one seventy six. This appropriation is funded with general revenue and provides for the main operations of the school for the blind including operation of their main campus which is a residential facility as well as their out reach and vision testing programs. The agency request nine point four million dollars for each year of the biennium this request includes the following changes they ask to add six positions with associated salaries and matching they also asked to increase salaries in matching by one hundred thousand. In salaries and twenty two thousand and matching for shift differential pay. They ask for an increase in capital outlay of fifty thousand dollars for each year for educational equipment and library holdings and finally they ask for an increase of one point two five million and special maintenance this is to provide appropriation for carry forward balances for maintenance costs. The executive recommendation provides for the agency request an appropriation only with the exception of the new positions and associated matching costs those are on hold for review by the new administration also the special maintenance line is recommended at one point two million each year which is fifty thousand less than what was requested the rest of the appropriations will stay the same so that concludes my remarks on the date the school for the blind thank you madam chair all right thank you are there any questions you motion for executive rack second all those in favor say aye and opposed ayes have it thank you maybe nine thank you madam chair the Arkansas school for the deaf begins on page one eighty seven. This call also operates as a day school and a residential facility they provide educational services and opportunities for students from birth through the age of twenty one that have hearing impairments. The Department appropriation summary begins on page one eighty eight they have three total appropriations that total about fourteen point three million dollars for each year in their request funding comes from general revenue federal revenues cash funds and fund balances. I have a hundred fifty full time employees and fifty five extra help all three appropriations had change levels the first one is detailed on page one ninety one it is their state operations appropriation. This is funded with general revenue and some. federal. The request is for thirteen million dollars for each year the biennium includes the following request a request to add for positions with associated salaries and matching various personnel changes which include re classifications with no appropriation associated with those an increase of three hundred fifty thousand salaries in matching for extra duty pay and shift differential pay they ask for an increase of ten thousand each year an extra help and matching cost to pay for substitute teachers. They ask for an increase of ninety three thousand and operating expenses for monthly overhead expenses and building upkeep they ask for an increase of one point one million in special maintenance this is to provide for the spending of prior year fund balances for building maintenance the request for an increase in thirty thousand capital outlay for the purchase of equipment and they also ask for various reallocation of funds. To better align with expenditure needs those are detailed on page one ninety for your review. Executive recommendation provides for the agency requesting appropriation only with the exception of Ford the four new positions in re classifications which are on hold for the new administration to review the next appropriations page one ninety four this is the school for the deaf federal operations appropriation primarily funded with federal revenues this appropriation totals one point oh eight million for each year the biennium and includes the following increases they ask for an increase in salaries of fifteen thousand was with associated matching costs for stipends for tutoring and increase an extra help at five thousand for federal programs an increase in operating expenses at twenty thousand for trade relevant training programs increasing conference and travel of five thousand for staff to attend professional development conferences an increase in professional fees at twenty five thousand for physical therapy and occupational therapy costs and they also request forty five thousand capital outlay for the purchase of classroom equipment the executive recommendation provides for the agency request the final appropriation with changes is the Kasher operations it's on page one ninety six. This is funded with USDA breakfast in school lunch reimbursements interest on cash investments and legacy donations their request two hundred thirty thousand dollars for each year the biennium this includes decreases in operating expenses at forty five thousand. As well as a reallocation of thirty thousand from operating to capital outlay. To purchase new kitchen equipment and the decrease is due to just a lowered Lowered anticipated revenue due to more fundraising occurring with their foundation executive recommendation provides for the agency request thank you madam chair. All right thank you are there any questions seeing none of the motion motion and a second for executive rack all those in favor say aye and oppose ayes have it thank you thank you ma'am sure the next appropriation for your review is the Arkansas State Library it's found on page one ninety eight the state library serves as a resource for state government for public libraries and for all citizens they offer services with an overall mission to provide our Kansans with access to information their department appropriation summary is found on page one ninety nine they have five total appropriations. That total seventeen point four million dollars for each year the biennium they receive general revenue federal revenue public school funding and they have cast some cash funds and fund balances they have forty nine positions in twelve extra help positions they have to appropriations that you have not already reviewed with change levels the first one is on page two oh one this is their operations appropriation it is funded with general revenue. It provides for the ongoing operations of the state library they request three point eight million dollars for each year and that total includes The reclassification of six positions with associated salaries in matching an increase of extra help at five thousand dollars for each year the biennium and this is for the Arkansas Public Service internship program they also ask for increasing conference in travel at twenty five hundred for each year for increased travel costs as well as an increase in books and subscriptions and ninety seven hundred each year for an increasing cost of database maintenance executive recommendation provides for their request with the exception of the re classifications and associated appropriation these are on hold for the new administration to review the second appropriation with changes on page two of four this is the federal operations appropriation. This is funding from the US department of education through the institute of museum and library services it promotes access to all kinds of library resources. The request is for three point two million dollars for each year the biennium. It includes. A request for the reclassification of three positions with associated salaries and matching and increase an extra help for added support during the summer months. We allocations from professional fees to conference and travel at seventy three hundred for increased travel costs a decrease of twenty seven hundred and professional fees to better align with anticipated expenses and the restoration of forty thousand annually in capital outlay for the replacement of aging vehicles executive provides for the agency request with the exception of the re classifications which are on hold for review by the new administration. The last appropriation is the aid to public library which you all have already reviewed and the schedule that was provided it's on page two oh six. And as I stated previously the edge the executive recommendation was to provide for the requested increase bringing up to ten million dollars annually in aid to public libraries in appropriation only thank you madam chair. All right senator Hammer you're recognized for a question thank you on that day to public libraries conversation earlier can you explain that's ten million dollars that's going. Not through the school but just straight out to the public libraries is that right yes Sir it will go to the libraries and there's also a scholarship program that they administer and use those funds for. For librarians and media specialists okay and and which agencies appropriation I'm sorry this one is under the Arkansas State Library okay all right thanks. All right any other questions motion for executive right second all those in favor say aye. And opposed ayes have it thank you. Thank you madam chair the next appropriation is the Martin Luther king junior Commission it begins on page two thirteen of your manual this commission's purposes to promote understanding and acceptance of non violence and human equality is a way of building community among all our Kansans they are primarily focused on youth oriented projects their appropriation summaries on page two fourteen as you can see they have to appropriations totaling about four hundred forty thousand dollars for each year of the biennium they are funded with general revenue and cash funds they have for positions. The one appropriation with change levels is on page two sixteen. This appropriation provides for the operation of the Commission in this paper general revenue and cash funds their request totals about three hundred fifty thousand for each year the biennium this includes a decrease in operating expenses of ten thousand seven hundred each year due to reduced rent costs and in the previous by naming during the pandemic their rent costs were lower by the division or department of Arkansas heritage and they were able to lock in that lower rate so they they're just reflecting their budget to show those reduced rent costs they also request an additional fifteen thousand seven hundred and general revenue funding to allow the commission to utilize their cash donations for community outreach. Executive recommendation provides for the agency requested an appropriation as well as the increase in their general revenue funding in the recommendation thank you madam chair. Thank you are there any questions. Motion for executive rack is their second second all those in favor say aye an oppose motion carries thank you thank you manager the last budget for your review today is for Arkansas PBS their appropriation begin on page two nineteen of the manual. Arkansas BBSs organized for the purpose of making the benefits of educational television available to an promoting its use by inhabitants of the state they provide lifelong learning opportunities to all our Kansans they have instructional programs to schools programming services to improve and enhance the lives of our kids Arkansas citizens and they also provide the online professional development programs for the department of education their department appropriation summaries uptown on page two twenty of your manual you can see they have to appropriations totaling about fifteen million dollars for each year the biennium they're funded with general revenue fund balances grants and cash funds they have a hundred and two hundred five requested hundred five positions and have fifty one extra help. The first appropriation is their ATM or Arkansas PBS treasury paying appropriation on page two twenty two this provides for the use of funding from grants from private foundations partnerships and other entities they request eight point nine million dollars for each year of the biennium. This total includes a change level increase of three hundred and fifty five thousand for each year the biennium. It includes. The restoration of capital outlay each year for the replacement of essential network broadcast equipment updates to program production and maintenance of professional development services including the Arkansas ideas program they also ask for one position title change to reflect the new agency name of Arkansas B. S. executive recommendation provides for the agency request with the exception of the title change which is not placed on hold for review by the new administration. The second appropriation is eighteen and operations it is on page two twenty four the manual this is funded with general revenue and provides for the infrastructure and operational needs. I have ATM Arkansas P. B. S. they request about six point four million dollars for each year the biennium this total includes three new positions with associated salaries in matching an increase of extra help at three thousand dollars with associated matching they also request twelve position title changes this is to match their positions with the agents news agencies new identity and an increase in general revenue funding executive recommendation provides for the agency request for the appropriations with the exception of the new positions. And the salary matching associated with those new positions those are on hold for review by the new administration. The title changes are recommended. And the general revenue is recommended at five point eight million for each year the biennium thank you madam chair thank you Miss World in any questions. The motion for executive right second. All right second all those of favour say aye aye and oppose ayes have motion carries and with that I think we are. We have a special language at one thirty special language at one thirty all right see no other business meeting is adjourned.