ALC-PEER

All right I'll go ahead and call this meeting to order chair sees a quorum the first item of business is I need a motion to to suspend the rules of the supplemental agenda can be hired. Got a motion and a second all in favor aye. Ozonated the ayes have it. All right item be. Thank you madam chair in section be these are the very sempre appropriation request the first item is a letter from the Department chancer Tatian this is a request for five million appropriation is to disperse grants for road and bridge repair the fable shall area according to the letter collections for natural gas production had been higher than projected. Nicks I don't be too is a letter from the division of community correction is two hundred eighty one thousand two hundred one dollars and a preparation this is to cover the costs associated with starting a new drug court in Perry County Arany the transfer is on the agenda for the same purpose that's items you to. Next item is a letter from the division of higher education is item B. three is for a half a million in preparation it's to support the first year of annual maintenance of the scholarship application mansion System scholarship portal. Next item B. four is a letter from Division workforce services for one point five million appropriation this is to provide assistance for speed I'm sorry it's revised meeting thirty four individual development accounts in the temporary assistance for needy families program next item B. five the letter from the State Parks Division it's for one point five million that's just been the increase revenue from the real estate transfer tax on grants for more outdoor recreation opportunities and B. six is a letter from the department of its safety commission on law enforcement standards is for ten thousand five hundred this is provide grants to support assist beneficiaries of the fallen law enforcement officers a rainy day fund transfer is on the agenda for the same purpose it's items you want. Next item is a letter from the division of Arkansas State Police over a public safety this is for eighty five thousand five hundred and appropriation is to complete a roof replacement due to wind damage. Next item is B. eight this is a letter from the crime information center for two hundred eight thousand corporation is to upgrade the sex offender registry system. The nine is a letter from the Department commerce offices schools of building it's four one point nine five million an appropriation this is a purchase land from the common development corporation to support the creation of the manufactured a robotics training center. The next item is in a separate packet marked B. VTA held and this was held from a previous meeting it deviates request of you pass over this item today consider at a future meeting so now go to the bill agenda that a one on page three of this ability to. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah you want would you like today. All right I want to recognize Senator Dismang members just so you kind of know what you're looking at there there was some discussion about game and fish it is you know as we passed over now a couple times as a request for market funds to a million dollars for a couple of projects for some discussion about shifting that to restrict reserve kind of last minute for walked in today they decided that maybe they didn't want to take it out restrict reserve and so we're just going to pot for right now that's over this item that's of the Arbor request so it's not technically pull down and will consider you know how we're gonna move for that at some point the future again sorry about the last minute changes but that's that's kind of where we are. Thank you. Senator Chesterfield you're recognized. Thank you madam chair I would ask the B. five be hailed as well as the Department of Parks heritage in tourism's budget. Yep yep it's possible we can hold out of the five but as far as holding the budget that's not something that we can do in here I'll just ask that he be held by the American. Do you have a reason you like the state or is that something that we just need to talk about later. Go ahead about it in Little discuss it later okay thank you. Would be possible I could bring them to the table. Okay. Do you Senator Chesterfield is one hold this until the next meeting is that what you're looking at so. I'll hold it okay so that could be possibly taken up on Friday. Okay. So we need to pass it out. Well. We. All right members are there any questions on items one through nine B. one three nine. Thank you senator Chesterfield has requested that we hold item B. five with the possibility that it could be. We can go ahead and do it in the full A. L. C. on Friday. The representative Dotson you're recognized. Thank you madam chair on the the fight would be possible to hear from. Parturition tourism kind of what this year Ranson aid. Leding what what it goes for more specifically yes can I get someone to the table please. State Parks Division. But they were. State. She. Sure. I please state your name for the record and the representative Dotson you'll be recognized for your question. Since the Adam left the CFO Department. Catherine injuries Director of the Arkansas office about the recreation. Plus like this can chief of legislative affairs. Thank you you're recognized thank you so obviously if this is held until Friday but if if you get your your Situation cleared up there and that holds released might just going out without us having any further details so here's your opportunity give us a little bit more. Input on what all these grants and aids are gonna be used for one point five million commitment. An additional revenues that. That's kind of I guess that's the category which these funds flow normally and you just had extra money coming in is that. What happened. That's correct yes. It in what what more specifically do these funds typically go toward as far as grants and aids the grants are divided into two different categories one is the fun part grants the other is the matching grant the fun part grants is it up to a hundred thousand dollars for city parks pocket parks the matching grants is up is a reimbursable grant of up to two hundred fifty thousand dollars for outdoor infrastructure trail building other parks any kind of outdoor recreation amenities those are used by and municipalities in the state and are distributed all across the state so these go directly to the local communities correct for those products all right thank you. Senator Chesterfield you're recognized thank you I it just ask for this is a courtesy that I could so that I can visit them offline but since they're it there seems to be some consternation about my request let me just say this the department of heritage has an abysmal record in hiring minorities. It is of concern to me that as we provide them with one more money that they assure those of those people of color that some of these grants are gonna go to underserved communities that specifically address the needs of minority communities that is the concern that is what I wanted to visit with you off line about let's just you want to continue the discussion I'm done but I am I am very much concerned because we have several agencies that have less than ten percent. A minority employees and the department of heritage is one of those so I wanted to say that to you it is my hope that moving forward that these grants will indeed some of them go to underserved minority communities and with that I will from my whole madam chair. Thank you senator Chesterfield. Right conceit number sixty three you're recognized okay you're recognized thank you madam chairman so you might be able to answer this question or at least give us an update on Friday but I'd spoke with the Secretary at one time about the broadband access in the State Parks program do you know for making any progress towards that goal. Yes we are making progress toward that goal we are the we are in partnership with the I. S. in in that project and we don't have specific details about each one the projects with this here today but we can provide updates on those if you would please I'd like I'd be curious to see what kind of progress you've made and what parks actually have broadband access now because there's a the secretary's been speaking about the increased usage of the state parks and I think that's a viable resource to have in those parks thank you madam chair thank you are there any other questions for one B. five what we have them at the table. Right. CD twenty seven you're recognized. Good afternoon thank you madam chair this relates to a just a general question do you all handle historic preservation within communities different communities across the the state within cities is that part of your work that you do as well. Yes it is the okay all right so I'm I'm just aware of some things that have transpired within the last few weeks that I'm very concerned about so maybe we can have a conversation offline about something that's taken place within my community so I would like to speak with you all about that thank you. All right thank you seeing no other questions are not to be five thank you appreciate it all right I know I have B. nine I can get someone with department commerce to the table please. Please introduce yourself for the record thank you madam chair Cody weights director House the skills element apartment commerce thank you Senator Dismang. Thank you just a couple quick questions on this particular project so this is the one point nine five is just for the purchase land not construction correct and it's a shift from a balance that you already have in hand yes was it always intended for the purchase one point nine five I wouldn't say it was always intended I mean we've had some these funds around but yes I mean once we got five identified a site location owners of the cost being that was the intended purpose of the funding yes in your buying them from Conway court correct that because we can build a corporation right yep all right and what is so this particular I've been a little bit curious about the selection of inside because I know there were various communities that wanting to donate or you know play a role in in developing something just like this what what is the city of Conway or Conway development Corp buying in for why they why this particular you know project is is being located there because it's clearly not the donation of land sure the center yeah so I mean a couple of things so number one we first are going to the process of identifying you know the need for additional training and workforce development for incumbent workers specifically in the manufacturing space we wanted a couple of things one we want to be centrally located in state of Arkansas we wanted a piece of property that was between eleven fifteen acres with interstate frontage property and so ease of access right off I. forty close proximity to an airport things of that nature and so we started looking at that through site selection other things there's only a handful of sites that kind of met all those criteria so after some conversations with common economic development corporation just kinda reviewing that that's the site that best fit come all those criteria now obviously you know in terms of just the operations all that that still something we're trying to figure out how to work in the future but those reasons why we chose that specific site so there wasn't the just war based on what you all perceived to be the need as far as location not at so does the city Conway or ECA or what it what is the buy in from the community well I mean obviously we we take buy in from the. As an industry primarily right and so obviously there's a a number of companies as well as number of companies all across the state that want to see something like this developed and so we've had conversations even just recently a few months maybe about four weeks ago with some other business center should partner Stokes and Arkansas box which is now part of Saddam's every packaging corporation things that nature you know obviously there's a motion for vertical manufacturing and others that are interested in seeing this site developed but the today it's really just a general need from a statewide perspective to make sure that we have something like this to serve the needs of income of workers employers. Okay and then the one point nine five I'm sure how did you arrive at the value of the that you have many acres is that they're on the interstate just over eleven I think it's about eleven point seven and so there's you know per square footage you know kind of process that we went through with the county coming billing corporate their proposal to us happy to share that with you if you'd like to take a look at it oversee that or or just kind of taking it is going to be curious about the product or you know projects we found out about it at the tail end of a give this last session that there was even discussion of that happening after the site selection amendment done again I know I know of communities that we're very interested in this very thing partially even on their own so they were willing to kick in you know the their own dollars to see something like this created I'm glad to see it's happening in you CA and hopefully that that particular is going to use the same up because there's gonna be some job creation that goes along with that facility property tax collections you name it I feel like there's some value to the community and over there engaged and willing to help financially. Thank you Sir. Senator Rapert you're recognized. You just follow up on these lines of questions. On the what I'm just going to follow up on on the line of questioning from Senator Dismang you mentioned that you wanted to be centrally located. My issue with that is how does the department of commerce ever planned to grow rule Arkansas if you continuously try to focus on growing Central Arkansas. Because I mean fair question. Sure yeah and in years I mean I I can't speak specifically for commercials all but what I'm like as just you know when we look at the dynamics of income a worker training in the state of Arkansas what we see as we routinely see companies or submitting grants are agency to send workers out of state to get training you know this in on the Alabama there's an intimacy to access Michigan right whether it's for Phoenix trainer ABB training or CNC machine operators or things that nature and so for us we felt that by centrally located in this state companies from southern Arkansas Eastern Arkansas north central Arkansas work having to travel to a corner of the State perhaps as opposed to a centrally located so it might not be two and a half hours from any part of the state now give or take a little bit of time there may be a little bit of additional driving time there but the idea behind this is also to have specifics to you know if the companies looking to expand in the state of Arkansas for companies looking to make increased investment statement accompanying jobs to the state we would have a customer is set up piece of this facility so they could bring equipment and specific to that organization bring people in from that community where that company may be looking to grow whether that's more central or whoever the case maybe and then train those people there and sent back to those communities pro prepared for the job that they're gonna be taking on I understand workforce development understand that concept however you know I know that Harrison Arkansas was with looking at this I know that Mountain Home has probably the premier robotics and. Education curriculum at the at the school and they compete in the worlds at world competitions for robotics in Mountain Home you know from Mountain Home so I'm just curious you know I I think I think we have to really start thinking about the state as a whole one and I I think it's a good idea I think it's it's a support of idea however I just I just wish you had looked at you know some of these other areas and I'm interested also to see what that partnership funding would look like sure. Thank you senator. Thank you representative Cavenaugh you're recognized thank you Mr chair in order to write I just want to follow up on your using the skills development fund and we talked a little bit about that this morning because you're also looking at forty million dollars for the rest of the project got a skills development fund. And so that skills development firm quest that contract the all we're talking about the defined as something that was so this is on top of that forty million that you want to use out of that skills development fund that is a part of the forty million dollar total request something of mine that forty million is really an anticipated costs and we don't know the exact dollar amount today but we do know the cost of the acquisition of property and what that architectural design from peace it could be forty million could be fifty could be thirty five the way things going it could be sixty who knows at this point but I just want to make sure that's not on topic to the other method of finance secretary talking about this morning No representative was thank you thank you. Thank you are there any other questions well we have them at the table. All right seeing none thank you think Senator are there any other committee are there any other questions on items B. one three nine. All right saying none of entertain a motion to approve. Got a motion and a second all in favor aye. All opposed nay. The ayes have it. Motion carries moved items C.. Thank you ma'am there were sections the this is the cares expropriation quest there is only one item on the agenda for the department of finance administration disbursing officer this is eight million in a preparation it's return unspent cares Act funding to the U. S. treasury. All right do I have any questions on item C. one for department of finance administration. All right seeing none not entertain a motion to approve this item. Got a motion and a second all in favor say aye. All opposed nay the guys have a motion carries move to item the. Thank you ma'am chairman section the this is the American rescue plan act appropriation quests the first ten requests are from direct federal awards items eleven and twelve are awards from the steering committee to game and fish and as I understand they've been pulled down. The past going to pass over items eleven and twelve items thirteen to twenty four items that were held last month and the very quick passing over these items today. Except I don't D. twenty two which will be here today the first item is the one this is on page three it's for the department of Veterans Affairs is three hundred eighty one thousand this is to support the state veterans home in Fayetteville next item is on the next page page four D. two this is again Department of Veterans Affairs is two hundred seventy five thousand is to support the state veterans home in North Little Rock next item is on page six. Page sixty three department of health eight hundred fifteen thousand five and the for preparation for A. R. P. funds is to hire and train behavioral work of health workforce unify crisis centers response across state and expand crisis center staff and Nicks items on page nine. On page nine is the department of health this is the fourth for under fifteen thousand it's to do surveillance of disease in Montr impacted COVID nineteen to mothers and babies Nicks items on page thirteen. Page thirteen is the five Department health again it's complimentary one million is to support confinement facilities Nicks I was paid sixteen. On page sixteen is the six department of health this is the reality previously word preparation of this will move one point six million from grants and eighty two professional fees in the maternal infant early childhood missing grant this item is on page eighteen. Page eighteen this is the seven again department health this is also a reallocation of previously ordered preparation this is a move six hundred thousand from grants Nays two professional fees for that same maternal infant early childhood visiting grant program. Next item is on page twenty. On page twenty is D. eight this is the part of Education Division of higher education is two hundred sixty five thousand an appropriation this is to pay for an americorps as manager engage Arkansas and to make grants is court municipalities and service events next item is page twenty two page twenty two is the nine this is DHS six hundred eighty five thousand appropriation is to begin the planning phase of the community based crisis response program that will create a coordinated network of first responders socials social services professionals in clinical staff to provide immediate services for those in crisis thanks items on page twenty six. Page twenty six is the ten this is a part of energy environment division environmental quality it's for four hundred thousand is to support enhanced monitoring of particular matter in five other air pollutants regulated under the clean air act. the next two items eleven so those of you pass over but will remain on the agenda and I just thirteen fourteen were held from last meeting the ready go to item D. twenty two. And that is on page one hundred twenty nine this is in a separate packet this is in the package D. A. R. PA held. And in that package if you go to page one hundred and twenty nine. We'll find D. twenty two that is for the department Human Services Division of aging adult behavior health it's for five million appropriation is to support training and certification of teams employed by behavior health agencies including intensive in home services I'm sure those are all they are pure. All right thank you very much. Her right to a representative Wardlaw you have a question I believe on an out of the five for your good all right ma'am all right could I please get someone from department of health to the table. Her if you could please state your name for the record of the representative Wardlaw you're recognized. Don Adams deputy director and chief of staff. Erica the associate director of management operations my son was there to be honest. Thank you madam chair if you guys follow me through the first page of the five you'll see that the total grant was nine point three million dollars and some change and there was about five point six which is more than half of the grant was used for operating expenses I would just like for you all to kind of walk us through why that operating expense line is so high compared to the granite self and what that money was used for our will be used for. How to proceed to question I do believe animal Erica expand on this but the operating expenses would include contracting non professional contracting so I believe that grants is that eighty five percent of the funds have to go directly towards assisting confinement facilities jails and prisons in controlling COVID nineteen so some of those funds will be directly allocated out to that assistance is not for internal operations before contracts to feel the grant okay if you follow me to the second page yes G.. Add to that exactly the way I thought you would. We go back in the contract tracing on the second page I thought of that we were done with contact tracing so if you fall down to eighty one of A. B. optional activities you guys talk about testing a contract tracing recommended isolation and quarantine strategies how much will be used for these activities are how many contractors are you hiring for these activities okay I'm on deferred Erica but just to make sure we clear this is only within confinement facilities jails prisons that these activities will be occurring. Yes those activities that you're referring to there optional activities what is current they are not require it and that was just listed as an option for this grant okay that's United so I saw that part but how many contractors or how many contracts are you letting for these activities not at this time. We're we're well of the how would we know at what time that you hire those contractors for these activities. Okay Any time that we're going to go out for any of these contracts I'm sure they will come for review these will not be going out without any approval contact tracing will not be included and and none of the scope of work for any of those contracts as we know those are not allowed out so madam chair they will only come review if they hit the thresholds therefore if the proper time but I would like to make a motion to make sure that these come to review our no matter the threshold all right. Thank you. Are there any other questions I've got to Senator Chesterfield your question for department of health. Okay US senator. Senator Hammer is yours report health okay. You're recognized thank you ma'am chair on the professional feeds maybe that was just explain I just wasn't listening at one of the professional fees for. Senator hammer this would be for any of you know medical staff requires a license goes under the professional fee commitment item so any expenses related to those professional fees would be ending and that commitment on. For the licensure or assist for the actual employment of if the services requires a professional license like nursing to do testing and other things like that that it that expense would fall under professional fees to contract with them okay is this all a hundred percent federally funded correct so even the matching personal matching. Russia the hundred ninety thousand that's federal funded I'll get Erica to confirm. Yes that personal service mention is French so you're a insurance and health insurance what is all federally funded are then the last question is this the work release centers will I be given a special properties above other populations so that we can keep the people that are in the workforce services guaranteed to be going out into the into the field to work or are you going to prioritize who gets what treatment in the event this isn't enough money to take care of all the prison population. Most of these funds will be given directly to the prisons themselves and the jails themselves to so the these fees will be I'm scuse me these funds will be directly granted to them or through the contracts with them to provide the services to their facilities okay I just wanna make sure the work force portion of the population. It's a property so that they can be out the field working if we ran into that for the past so if you can guarantee me that that's great thank you Sir thank you. Or a representative Dotson yours for department of health. Yes and and also possibly DFA in combination with the okay you're recognized so this is kind of. Sent here than just recently like the previous item we released a million dollars worth of cares funds to go back to the US treasury. But it seems like all of these items that you're talking about here is nine point three million would have more than likely qualified for carers Act the cares Act funds what do you have any idea why we were not as may be DFA. A partial answer you may not know the answer to this but why we're not using why we didn't use the cares Act for this type of health related COVID related stuff before the Arkansans out president dot that I can and this is a direct award from the federal government so it didn't come through or by the or cares just a direct award I thought it said. Our program funding on the five. What item are you one D. D. five is what I was yes firm to American rescue plan act program funding but it's it's a federal ward this is just a direct award director for the department yes thank you. Representative Cavenaugh you're recognized thank you madam chair or to let my question is going to be dealing with the The maternal infant early childhood home visiting as well as yeah you've got to contracts the and seven on those my question is how much of this money is actually going to home visits. If I may I'd like to have the program staff for that particular program come up S. okay madam chair yes please. Please state your name for the record. Right tackle an Advil. Yes. so. On there's two different grants for just moving this funding from categorical funding and. I think the only amount that we kept within the agency is for administrative fees which is less than ten percent of each of the two grants. Everything else is going directly to it some of it is going for training for staff and the paying for staff from children's hospital but those are the people who provide direct care yes that's what I'm wanting to know is I want to know how much you're going to be using for training of these personnel out of this grant you're not actually providing home visits out of it your providing training to Arkansas children's hospital so that's what I'm trying to find out. Yes so. There's two different grants the on here. I'm sorry I don't know the exact dollar amount for the training line itself but I can get that for you yes if we could get that because I want to make sure that this money's going out for the actual home visits where because we're taking out of grants and we're moving it up to operating expense so we're not gonna be giving grants out to help people I want to know how much we're going to be using this money to train people rather than giving service to people we're actually moving this money to professional services versus from the grants it's going to the same place we're just moving the category of funding because of who's been there who's getting them exactly yeah thank you if you could please provide us thank you please provide us with the break down of where you see those expenses within both of those. All right do I have any other questions for department of health while they're at the table. All right thank you. Senator Chesterfield thank you madam chair help me understand on D. we're saying that we are holding thirteen through twenty four is that what we're saying we're actually holding eleven three twenty four with the exception of twenty two that's one that we passed out the last peer meeting five million dollars to help with training for new licensure types for division of aging I say mass the rationale. FDF in a has asked that we hold these they've been working with the governor's staff on priorities for funding looking at nursing programs across the state Also looking at the needs for hospitals do we need to consult and to look at the financials for those essentially just kind of shoring up the proposals and making sure that we do this correctly well may I speak to the interminable one Mister Walter and get his take on this please of course thank you so much. Please state your name for the record in the center just a field you're recognized thank you. Larry Walter secretary department funded some instruction thank you so much thank you madam chair and Mr Walter would you explain to me further about this process because. If you're showing them up most of them came and I listen to them they seem to be very much informed grant so could you tell me what we're doing here it is not reflective of the grant request that we have before us is reflective of to assure ourselves and we have entertain all of the possible providers of like in the nursing program the are there other colleges and universities around Arkansas that could be a part of the solution to make sure that we see Arkansas on the total the same thing with the hope of hospitals are you looking just at hospitals because the hospitals are not the only with these are we looking at nursing homes are we looking at rehab centers are we looking at the totality of the need for nursing it's my understanding we are we're gonna look at the entire universe of the need for nurses as part of the the other the other side of the question is. What is the need for nurses we and we have some work going on in that area to well I would ask to that you look at as we're looking at the number the amount of Arkansans they have gone to underserved communities and to minority vendors. Because it is a concern to me that the offer funds are supposed to be used to address the needs of those communities most negatively impacted by code it and they have inevitably been minority communities and you know the one that I am concerned about which state which is supposed to address that need. So if we're going to look at the totality of the picture I need to know how many of these grants have gone to a minority companies have serve minority communities so that we do get the total landscape of this issue. Okay. Right to do that and since people in this audience may I ask may I ask tell them that they can come back in November they may be heard or will you tell them so that they don't make trips down here but no real good reason I don't know when it will be heard at part of that will be the pleasure of the legislature as well as the how well or how quickly we get the work done hi thank you so much and I appreciate you and madam chair would you please inform me so that I may inform those individuals on my represent when we anticipate actually hearing these these proposals yes absolutely I think it's our intent at least right now hopefully they'll be able to be heard in November but I will definitely stay in communication with you thank you so much yes. Representative Dotson thank you madam chair director Walter secretary Walter yes Sir It out of her my question earlier hearing here regarding that the eight million dollars and cares funding that was returned to the treasury With some of these projects that are are related have been used been able to be used by some that cares Act funding what why did we return some of that for what what's the situation with that we had a date certain by which we had to spend the money and that that day has come and gone we cannot commit new. Shares money to projects in Arkansas that brought that projects over for that the bill is over and so now we're using a a RP money okay thank you. All right other any other questions for secretary Walter well he's at the table. Got seat number twenty seven representative Springer you're recognized. Thank you madam chair for the record I just want to know what was the dollar amount that was returned that we have to send that I heard eight million dollars I'm not for I didn't I haven't seen the number myself. Any more than that madam chair can we get that figure so that we'll know what I mean my god yes thank god we thank you we're talking we are we're talking a hundred and twenty one one point two five billion dollars was what we had to provide services for in Arkansas under the cares Act so but I don't know how much it's been returned. I would appreciate knowing that please is that going to help the whole lot of folks the number of got is seven point five eight. Million dollars. That will be that it is inevitable Walker is. We're in the process of returning it to the federal government is. You. Yes. Senator Dismang and just little clarification on that so for instance and I don't know what this particular amount was from but we made an allocation we said we're going to spend money on this particular project and for whatever reason that project income light and we weren't able to spend the money which again when you have this. I'm never billions of dollars is out there and we're trying to allocate it out as we can I mean it would. You know gone understand that some of this money would not have been spent but unfortunately the deadline for prior to even the spending of the money that that there was a deadline for identifying projects right and so it you know what you whenever we allocated money on it It application the project in that past if we don't spend it then as we sit back which I think is what we're hearing here there may be some other projects that you're not actually able to spend the money on that we had allocated for that as was required previously that fair reassert and we have until Twelve thirty one twenty four to obligate the air pre money we have until twelve thirty one twenty six to spend it and I suppose if we don't spend it by that time unless there's a change in the law. Would have to return that money that we have is. After twelve thirty one twenty six all right are there any any other funds that you accept that you are expecting to have to return from the cares money that you know of at this point no okay. This is a. Correct represent Springer you're recognized for follow up thank you madam chair and this to me Mister Mister chair of thank you for your comments with respect to projects that were not then that makes me raise the next question what those projects that we said that we were going to implement that didn't materialize and that we can ask for a list yes thank you please let us. This is thank you thank you so much you bet all right got seat number six the right now recognized. Thank you ma'am chair. So missile all the let me ask you this so. In light of us returning funds I know that you said that we had to have my obligated by December thirty first of twenty twenty four and then spent by twenty twenty six December thirty first twenty twenty six. What kind of safeguards are we putting in place so that. If we have obligated funds and in the project doesn't materialize. I guess do you have safeguards in place so that you know maybe by December thirty first of twenty twenty five the funds are not spent we need to begin to look at other projects I mean how how how how does that work to ensure that we can get all the funding spent because we may have a lot of projects that are still on funded. That uses funding if somebody doesn't use it you know so so walk me through that process please we track them the money that is allocated to a specific areas generally monitored by our disbursed by a different another department of so we know how much went to the Department we know how much they spent so we're we're watching that on a regular basis and that was that was like and cares also we and so as as we got closer to the date we continue to encourage and you need to speak to and remind them that they needed to have that money spent and as someone just couldn't get it done you have a sales and. And if I have it with the FAA I'll add to that we have to do quarterly reporting and we're actively monitoring the the stand whether it be the other state agencies are with India from a on a quarterly basis to see that those projects are being funded and okay so that if if they fall behind the will not serve a specific project is not spending funds them what what are we what are we doing to to either. You know call that money back I mean what what's the. What is the protocol or the the process since you're doing to ensure that we can get these funds spent because if there's a project out there this just not spending the money or they can't spend all the money that that they've been allocated. Do we not have the option to actually re allocate that to another project. Yes represent love we do have that option and so if we see that a project has funds obligated to it we're not seeing expenditure of those funds we will come back through the office of the county and notify the secretary and work through the process either get those funds reallocated or through contact with the individual make sure that we can define it is it does expand. Yes and that. Well being carriers yes yes we have made contact with certain of a certain grants under the care sector where we went back to them and and discussed with them that process either recouping the funds so we can reallocate in which we did on on a few few cases or go ahead and get them to expend the funds. So how long do you give them to expend those funds I mean like I want you to me do you want to say I mean if you're going to take the funds and in the obligate the project in three months then that that's not adequate time for us to reallocated to another project so that that's why I said kind of walk me through the process of what what you think in the comment I'll. I can talk to you off line but will represented what I can tell you what we did on the cares Committee and so as that deadline approach to allocate the funds no we started about four months out five months out working with each agency on you know you've been allocated so much money do you expect to use at all if not they would go ahead they voluntarily turned back and we reallocated we did that up until the till I think it was December up until the last month so what I expect you guys if you've got the December twenty twenty four you'll be monitoring it the last six months to make sure that if there is money that looks like it will be spent that it comes back I think part of the issue like with this eight million was you have a deadline to allocate it in the agencies did the best they could you know the the cares Committee thinking that it was allocated towards towards things that could be spent and then after the application deadline is once they realized that they might not could spend all that money and it was too late to reallocate if that makes sense so I think they'll work up until that the last meeting of twenty twenty four to re allocate. Okay thank you. All right senator Hammer you're recognized thank you Mr the it was our particular category that that money was assigned to our what was the purpose for what was originally dedicated for. Thank you senator Hammer I don't know that I can adequately summarize it was in a very very and group of categories I can share you with the offline the list here if if that's fine but but no no area was actually. Under served or under funded by virtue of the fact that all the money was not used is that a fair statement whatever list you're gonna give me would that be a fair statement. I believe that would be a fair statement that those that apply for the grants were funded appropriately okay because I remember the certain categories we've had this discussion about people either didn't respond in time they didn't you know they didn't get their applications in time it wasn't that the legislative branch or anybody do their part was just maybe the need wasn't as great as the money supply that was there so that's not a bad thing either so okay just wanna clarify thank you. Thank you a representative Springer you're recognized I would just like to have a copy of that list madam chair of the yes thank you but. Okay we'll make sure that you get that list all right seeing no other questions thank you very much are there any other questions on items of D. one through at ten or at D. twenty two. All right seeing none representative Wardlaw you're recognized for a motion. I got to get it. Thank you madam chair. I make a motion at the one thirty ten and D. twenty two. Are reviewed with D. five having to report all contracts to review committee that are let out of that five point six million dollars. that's a proper motion if you will change review to approved approved all right do I have a second. All right all in favor aye. Opposed nay moshing carries. Move on to item D.. Thank you ma'am chair were section any this is the infrastructure investment and jobs act section of the agenda there is one item you want department energy department this is for the oil and gas commission it's five million dollars in preparation this is the bill that will parking programs remediate this will remediate high priority wells and is to collect data on the number of orphaned wells in the state. Thank you are there any questions on item ET. All right seeing none not entertain a motion to approve item you want. Got a motion and a second all in favor say aye opposed nay moshing carries. Yes. Thank you madam chair we are going to the supplemental agenda in the supplemental agenda item B. one is in the air peer quest. It is on page four of the supplemental agenda. Page files request is for the department's information shared services for the employee benefits division this is fifty two point seven million a appropriation is to offset expenses incurred by the Arkansas state and public health insurance plans in response to COVID nineteen on page nine is a break out of the almost fifty three million a COVID related expenses with a positive test follow up and telemedicine coverage being the largest expense categories. Thank you are there any questions on item the one on the supplemental agenda. All right. Representative Dotson you're recognized. Thank you madam chair just with regards to this and this may. May not be the exact. This act area for this but does this cover any of the pharmacy reimbursements that have been talked about. It no it does not appeal it doesn't have it does not we have someone to the table though just to verify that for you if you Mr bleed. This is for the of mononuclear the extra twenty dollar dispensing fee you're talking about well the run I referring to is a lot of the pharmacy I guess they they pulled out of pocket for a lot of expenses that they did not get reimbursed for out of the. So representative Dr I think that's actually to talk about the the request to be reimbursed for the infusion treatments they were doing right that is still sitting with the FNA they still had some questions that had been cured on that yet so that's not of made it all the way through approval thirty FNA to go to the Arkansas fury Committee okay so it still in process so this particular stuff is this. Is this part of the reason why. Some of the EBT benefits there is a shortfall and some of that. Hans ones COVID nineteen certainly didn't help. We were headed that direction we were headed well before Kovan nineteen came along but the timing was particularly bad for the plan and that on top of everything else going on we had fifty two million dollars in expenses that we believe we would not have paid but for COVID nineteen. So when the R. for funding became available and we're looking at the requirements we felt as appropriate to go and require request that the funding come in to reimburse us for those expenses which we tied down to the claim level to cover nineteen. Okay. Thank you. Thank you madam chair. Representative Springer you're recognized. Madam chair I apologize I'm I didn't realize on item He he won the department of energy for their plugging these of. Is there anyone here from the Department energy that may ask the question I'm I'm familiar with this area and I'm just going to just want to ask a question about whether or not there's been any progress in that particular area I don't want to bring him up and let you what they're asking questions here and once we get through this the all right are there any other questions for Mr bleed while he's at the table. All right. All right seeing none I would entertain a motion to approve proved item B. one on the supplemental Jeff got a motion and a second all in favor aye. Opposed nay moshing carries. Are amended. Do this that kind of as a favor on item eighty one could have someone come to the table one item you want just answer a quick question we've already approved this item department of energy and environment all the gases are still someone here. Please state your name for the record. April golden any chief of staff I'm joined by Aaron black or any director of compliance and Allen York who is currently our assistant director of the office of water quality at the department of environmental quality but he used to work at all and gas so we had someone here from all the gas and they literally just left and so I thought maybe Allen might have some historical knowledge if I can't answer the question correct thank you you're recognized representative Springer thank you so much it's just a person kind of personal because Stephens that's an Ouachita County I'm familiar with the area and I'm familiar with this church in this community so I was just wondering whether complaints about problems in that particular area that you all are addressing specifically with this product unfortunately I am not able to answer that question I don't know of any particular complaints I can get you an answer and I will certainly get get you that and get it to you I I do know that this is This is an area where they're working at. I'm trying to remember it Stevens are you talking about Southwest Arkansas state and yes yeah I think I don't know that that area is part of the area but I will get a final answer for you well that's what it says here on the it says plugging wells near Stevens Arkansas in the seminary church a series. Even with the law field so that that was my concern because I'm I know there again I was just curious to know if they're having problems environmental concerns with respect to these well they're a whole lot of wheels down there and they're not you know producing so I was just one I just said that I don't know of any current problems but as I said I will absolutely get you an answer to that question I'm I'm sorry that are or representative that had already left that's fine thank you I was just cause and thank. All right thank you. All right we will move to item. With Adam F. on the agenda. Thank you madam chair inspection if this is the Arkansas department transportation quest for infrastructure investment and job that funding of this request is for two hundred fifteen million to spend federal funding on how the construction of a safety programs trans programs and other purposes this requests for preparation for the third quarter of fiscal twenty three that's January through March. All right are there any questions or not a math. All right say no not entertain a motion of got a motion and a second to approve all in favor say aye. Jose the ice have a motion carries move to item G. thank you madam chair in section G. this is a rainy day fund transfer request section G. one is for the Commission on Law for centers and training it's a letter from the governor transfer thirty thousand from the rainy day fund to the following losses beneficiary fund funds will be used to make grants to support and assist beneficiaries of fallen in fort I'm sorry fallen law enforcement officers a very simple reappropriation with early in the gym the was for the same purpose that was I'll be six. All right thank you are there any questions on item G.. Okay go ahead I'm sorry yeah there's one more G. two is a letter from governor transfer two hundred eighty one thousand to the division of community correction funds to be used to staff the new drug court Perry County there's also very slippery appropriation quest for this item and it was I don't be too. All right now are there any questions on items G. one or two a. Right see none of intertidal a motion to approve item she wanted to and a second all in favor aye. Opposed nay the I. seven motion carries move to item H.. Thank you ma'am jurisdiction H. these are the restricted reserve fund transfers each one is department energy environment it's one point seven five five five million transfer from majority vote various improvements and projects set aside and that's to be used for the work of the governor's infrastructure planning advisory committee caster preparation will be requested later the engine it's provide the spending authority for these funds. I'd. All right Senator Hickey you're recognized yes I'd like to I'd like to get a little information on this I could have someone part of energy and environment to the table. Again. If you will to state your names for the record again and soon Senator Hickey you're recognized. April golden any chief of staff joined by Aaron black art director of compliance and you're recognized Allen your or I'm sorry Allen McVeigh from the FNA who is here because we work very closely with them on this project right yet not if I understand this correctly you'll have to have this in place before those funds can be spent is that correct however. I guess my question is is you're asking for this specific amount and the detail on your letter doesn't say anything what exactly. Is it going to be spent for have you already issued RFPs or whatever if you need to or what what have you done. Sure I can answer that question senator so this is all part of what we call I pack which is the. advisory committee in its infrastructure planning advisory committee that governor Hutchinson established through executive order and the committee's purpose is to basically support various state agencies who may get the funding from I. J. A. as well as the IRA which is a more recently passed act so in support of those various agencies there's what we're looking at a minimum of four point six billion dollars over the next five years and it's going to be going out in a lot of different ways so the the committee was prepared to help guide assist and make recommendations and prior to what prioritize projects for that and in doing so they found that they really needed to hire some outside help the consultant who could really be kind of The the the nature of the work force so to speak on on this project and so we did work through T. S. S. earlier this year to do a procurement process and award a contract and the contract has been awarded and we have begun working with them I know they've already started working with other agencies to begin the process for applications for grants and things of that nature okay and that's but that's what I'm asking. How much is a contract out on is this what is so we was at our NPR of Q. what was it. I'm do you know. Okay I'm getting R. F. P.. So is this what we're having to pay the company does this match up dollar for dollar is what you're telling me yes my understanding is we're paying them the one point seven I think it's a little over one point seven K. and it was it was all put out how many people did you have that the replied to the RP. Was it just one. No center there were up there were I don't know how many I can certainly find that out for you but it was competitively. I'm I'm just more interested in them out Mr McVeigh do you know does that does that amount tied directly back to it as you stated you know that's my understanding okay would you all look at look at that and if there's any discrepancies in that before Friday let me know okay yes thank you Sir. Thank you. You're recognized the reason that I'm question in that members to is we only have like two million dollars in that majority of. Both set aside account so basically we're getting down to the bottom of that account thank you thank you. Representative Cavenaugh you're recognized thank you madam chair my question is just real quick you said that you've already begun working so you're spending money that you hadn't got yet. Or was it cannot managed that. The entity that was selected was Deloitte Deloitte has an overarching commitment to work with departments across state government that could possibly receive are you will receive formula funding from the infrastructure act but also to work with departments across the state government that are looking at competitive. Opportunity funding opportunities and this will allow them to be able to to work independently with each one of those. And this is an overall over arching appropriation so will they so we already have a contract with them and this is just going to be an amendment to that contract for one point this amount of money for them to do this this global work it'll be the funding to to provide yes it'll be the funding to support that scope of work okay thank you. I think if you could if you if there's any way that said kinda to senator Hickey's questions and represent Cavenaugh as just tell us you said Lloyd but who who won the who won the bid how many people did when was it awarded and what's the total dollar amount just give us the specifics when if you could survive Thank you. All right I don't see any other questions so appreciate you as. All right I would entertain a motion to approve item H. one I've got a motion and a second to all in favor aye. Opposed nay moshing carries. And we are holding item H. two so we'll pass over that and we will now move on to the items for review. And then item I think it's see I've lost my. Yes Adam C. one on the supplemental agenda we are passing over that as well from the restricted reserve fund so we move now to items for review. Thank you madam chair in section I this is for cash appropriation increase request the first item I wanted to let if the department Veterans Affairs FOR a hundred fifty one thousand corporation this is the pay operating costs for the North Little Rock veterans cemetery. Next item is on page for this is I two four again department Veterans Affairs is four four hundred four thousand is to pay special maintenance costs. And the next item I three is on page five this is the part of Education Division of career and technical education it's for a hundred forty five thousand appropriation it's pay for professional development for teachers. I force page six department of parks heritage tourism mosaic Templars cultural center is for five hundred sixty thousand preparation this is to utilize and is being rented nations like on their capital campaign for the music Templars control center. I five is page seven this is historic historic preservation program's fifteen thousand preparation is to cover the increased expenses for the main street destination downtown conference. I six on page eight this is for the Department energy environment it's one million seven fifty five thousand five hundred this is to fulfill the responsibilities of the governor's infrastructure planning advisory committee can this item was three degrees or transfer this early in the agenda. Manager those are all the cash appropriation requests. Are there any questions on items I one three six. I think I actually I've got questions on there anyone with the VA here that could come to the table. All right please state your name for the record. Thank you. It'll go there is red so now you're good you're live. Karen Watkins CFO Arkansas department of Veterans Affairs all right thank you now I think my question is just on our way and really I mean you've got to another hundred fifty one in essentially operating expenses. Can you just kind of go into why why we had such a shortfall kind of what's going on. Last year we spent a hundred and thirty thousand dollars on heads down setting services because. we didn't have enough staff to perform that function and we started this year with the backlog of headstones not set and it's really a cautionary appropriation to make sure that we have sufficient funding to continue those services if if required we have a contract with a vendor it's been approved and we have the Available amount on the contract and but our total appropriation won't cover it and regular operating expense okay do you expect is that backlog or have you caught up with that we have we've caught up okay okay. Are there any other questions. thank you thank you. I see no other questions will mark items five one three six as reviewed go to item J.. Thank you madam chair inspection J. these are the budget classification transfer request I'm G. one is for the Department parks here just towards on this is for the Division of heritage it's a fourteen thousand dollar transfer from the professional fees and conference in travel it's too operating expenses this is to provide for maintain the facilities. Next item G. two is part of public safety Arkansas crime information center it's a fifty five thousand dollar transfer from operating expenses to capital outlay is to complete an upgraded the sex offender registry since registry system. All right are there any questions on items one into one item J.. All right see none will mark that as reviewed moved to autumn K.. The manager reinspection caves or the miscellaneous federal grant preparation quest the first one K. ones for the department of health it's five thousand nine hundred forty three dollars in preparation of a grant from the C. C. to include the COVID nineteen Marshall in the behavioral risk factor surveillance system. K. two is part of Education Division of higher education it's two and fifteen thousand this is they have a grant from the health and Human Services and this is through workforce services to use can the funds to assist in education and enrollment activities. Thanks item K. three is energy environment division of environmental quality two hundred thousand an appropriation and they have a grant from the EPA to enhance IT and data management capabilities next item K. for is permitted military at six point five million a preparation and a grant from the National Guard bureau for a wellness center. K. five is part of public safety crime information center it's a hundred twenty five thousand the preparation of a grant to the office of intergovernmental services to enhance programs designed to implement the sex offender registration and notification act. Thank you are there any questions on item K.. Seeing none will mark that item as reviewed moved out until. Thank you madam chair section L. is the overtime operation request there's only one for the Department corrections it's for three point five million in a preparation is to cover overtime for unforeseen and budget is that short **** shortages due to cover nineteen all right are there any questions on automobile. Seeing none will mark that item is reviewed will move on to items for final action on him the humanitarian section in on. These are the Department education quest for A. R. P. appropriation for elementary and secondary school relief fund grants. on today's agenda is departments nineteen final round request the request is for eighteen million to make grants twelve school districts second hand that you have the schedules provided by the department shows to break out of districts responses on whether their use of fun plans fall in A. L. C. recommendation to use a R. P. funds for teacher retention strategies. Of those schools six districts a revised plan to meet recommendation and since in six districts did not revised plans and the provided justification last call. All right are there any questions on this. Representative Springer you're recognized thank you madam chair to those these these last twelve was those this list include all the districts within the state I believe go ahead yes no I I've been told by the department this is all districts. The last and final request. All right seeing no other questions at entertain a motion to approve items EM one through twelve. I've got a motion and a second all in favor say aye. Opposed nay moshing carries now she reports Saddam in. Thank you committee chair the first reports and reports for the quick action closing fun and Economic Development Commission the last page is a schedule that shows fifty one point nine million was expended from the quick action closing fun most of the transactions related film incentive rebates however the largest one time expenses of fifty million dollars for equipment and infrastructure for big reversal holdings is understand there's a representative from the department of commerce here to discuss report and answer any questions. do I have any questions on this report. All right seeing none will move on to you Ightham mote. The manager every month reports now the first one is a surplus income and distribution report and it shows the sources of unobligated funds and then distributions from the rainy day restrict reserve and long term reserve funds as of the end of last month three the financials fifteen point two million and distributions in the amount of one point three five million they need a new bass to be a little over one million after today's transfers the restrict reserve fund chills almost hundred ninety four million distributions in overall balance of two hundred twenty seven million and the total cash truckers are fund balances one point two billion the next report is the budget stabilization transfer report this is O. two it shows cash flow loans throughout the fiscal year and as of the end of September there are sixteen point eight million outstanding loans and cash balances a hundred and seventy eight million next item three is a tobacco settlement report any gives a summary of income fund balances investments actual payments to the state and on the second page all expenses by fiscal year the next item for assistance it'll services report and it shows the fund balance and disbursements as well the expenditures of each agency supported by the fun. O. five Z. mechanistically report the first four pages of this show requests that were approved by the ear piece you committee that the state has discretion working on the fifth page begins attaching a case report of the funds that were sent directly to state agencies from the various federal federal entities and on page ten is passion B. that's report of the funds were sent directly to institutions of higher education after that should be on page thirteen is the master proposal spreadsheet that the if a provided LC last month the tracks A. R. P. applications. All right thank you are there any questions or need the items on I have seen none we will move to other business I don't have any other business so we will consider this meeting adjourned.