ALC-PEER

Meeting is called to order chair sees a quorum. We'll go ahead and start with items for approval on B.. Thank you madam chair in section be these are the various temporary appropriation request the first item is a letter from the Arkansas game and fish commission this is B. one it's a three million dollar request for appropriation in this to pay for unanticipated expenditures for critical technology infrastructure issues. Next item B. two is a letter from the department of labor licensing for the professional bill bonds in licensing board it's a request for thirty thousand an appropriation and supports the vehicle. the last items B. three it's a letter from DHS division medical services it's a five million dollar request for procreation this is to make a grant to the Arkansas rule health partnership to assist rural hospitals and increase the risk of closure the department will also have a request for five million in funding for the restrict reserve fund that's later the engine on F. one there's also a ten million dollar a our peer quest from the if I need to make a grant to the same organization in the fourteen under the A. R. P. section they also have a hand out at the desk to magazine in a couple of a documents. And your those are all of the debris progression quests all right thank you I have a chair forty five. You have a question. Yeah representative Ladyman fishing game here. One of the committee I'm also this the Director of the Arkansas gamefish Commission. Good morning I'm unless you might see if I. You're recognized Ferguson Ladyman thank you madam chair of. I had a question you're requesting funds here for technology however you've got fishing lakes that you cannot open or close the valves to control the level of those lakes. What what are you doing to fix these lakes where you can maintain only control water levels. Yes Sir so what so we we do manage a handful of lakes throughout the state that have infrastructure that is so obsolete that we are not confident that we can open and close some of the water control structures like you've like you mentioned served at several of those lakes The reason those water control structures have been operated in some time is because they were never because they were never intended to regularly or release water for irrigation of but we're we're in the process now of doing an inventory of our infrastructure throughout the state of to make sure that we have the right infrastructure that we need of. Does answer questions no it really don't I mean what's your plan are you do you have funds for that do you have. People in the house that are capable of fixing that I mean what is your plan no you mentioned you know helping crops but the bigger issue here is you have no control of these lakes you have a request later on about controlling floodwaters I mean you can't control the floodwater in these lakes because you have no way of controlling. Yes Sir so I'll what I've previously mentioned we're doing an assessment throughout the entire state looking at all of our infrastructure to to make sure that we can look at with the desired or intended purpose behind a certain like is whether that's for fishing whether that's for releasing water for irrigation and to actually see whether we have the at the infrastructure that that we need on lake Frierson that particular water control structure we do not have the funding at at this time uh just for modernizing that water control structure well I think you need to build a plan for that yes Sir. Thank you chair number thirty six representative makes a grantors I'm way over here to yes Sir so I was kind of looking at your request here for three million dollars for a significant unanticipated expenditure of critical technology what is that significant onyx. You know unanticipated to yes Sir so we learned around the turn of the fiscal year that we had to IT capabilities that were up for beyond their in their end of life that we're going to directly impact the level of customer service that we're able to provide our to our Kansas during Our hunting season of one of those was our data system our data center which is directly connected to online game check and the other one was our of our phone system that is directly connected to how are two how are kids check game over the phone get their questions answered on on rags or reach anybody within the Arkansas game fish okay so I my follow up to that there is a after within the executive branch to try to move all the agencies within the I. S. and to the states data center the seems like that would be a good time to maybe for you all to consider doing that is that something that you're doing or is at a future project yes Sir we're we're we're in the process right now of refining what are long term data center needs are and our our CIA works very closely with the I. S. excellent thank you thank you manager Sir. Representative Mary Bentley you're recognized. As for another agency does one talk about the real hospital so I can wait till they come to the table all right thank you is there anyone else that has any questions for game and fish. No other questions thank you. What I'd like to do you're talking about represent Bentley item three that make or act all right what I'd like to do without and three because they're additional requests with Arkansans and they're all tied together actually when a hold item three until we get to those other requests and handle them all at one time okay. Are there any other questions for department of labor. I've seen none I would entertain a motion to approve items B. one and two at this time got a motion and a second all in favor aye. Opposed nay moshing carries. We want I don't see. The manager of this section sees the cares Corporation quest we learn from the if in a yesterday afternoon this items being pulled agency requests we're gonna move on to this section the these are the American rescue plan requests so now the section the. The first items on page three of that package the first seven request for direct federal awards from various federal entities to go directly to either institutions or agencies of the first item the ones Arkansas northeastern college it's requested two hundred fifty nine thousand appropriation this is to provide emergency financially grants to students and improve indoor air quality next item is on page five this is the two on page five casar committee college two hundred eighty eight thousand it's to provide emergency financially grants to students and provide student debt consolidation Nicks items page nine. Page honesty three Ozark a college requests for three hundred sixty nine thousand appropriation is to provide emergency grant aid students and upgrade their H. fax systems thanks items page thirteen. On page thirteen is the fourth Southeast Arkansas college this is request for four hundred seven seven thousand it's provide emergency grants to students and replace lost revenue due to reduced enrollments Nicks items page seventeen. Go to page seventeen the five this is Pulaski technical college it's request for one point six billion appropriation is to provide emergency grant aid to students next item is on page twenty one. On page twenty one is a request from DHS county operations this is to reallocate previously awarded appropriation for the snap program another question is actually pretty expenses have been higher than the original estimates Nicks items on page twenty five. On page twenty five is again DHS is for the developmental disabilities this is requested to engine three two thousand preparation and it's to offer fuel assistance enhanced assessment tools providing rich materials educational subscriptions and educate the public about the first connections program and that program provides early intervention for to developmental disabilities Nicks items will page twenty seven. so the next fifteen items are wars they came from the Arkansas area peace your committee says the next fifteen items those rewards that the state has discretion in making the first one is the eight it's on page twenty seven actually if I could almost stop you right there all right what I'd like today first let's see if we have any questions on items the one three seven on these direct federal awards. Anyone have any questions on those. All right seeing none at entertain a motion to approve items at the one three seven. I've got a motion and a second all in favor aye opposed nay all right the ayes have it now if you will please move on start without in the eight thank you thank you ma'am chair room D. eight this is page twenty seven this the first union committee award it's for Arkansas tech university it's three point two million appropriation this is to renovate the Morton hall site to construct a multipurpose facility to expand help education workforce training and community health monitoring next item is on page forty seven. One page forty seven is the nine this is the University of Arkansas at Monticello this is a six million dollar request for appropriation is to upgrade each fax systems in the Science Center next item is on page fifty seven. On page fifty seven is the ten this is a request from the University of Arkansas pine bluff it's three million an appropriation this is to construct the student engagement center the combined access to health care technology academic support crippling support and recreation necks items of page seventy three. One P. seventy three is the eleven this is for DFA disbursing officer it's four northwest technical institute it's five million appropriation is to construct an allied health facility to accommodate northwest technical institute LPN program they're surgical tech programs CNA programs there are processing and worker and more programs being considered for future enrollment Nicks items on page seventy five. On page thirty five is the twelve is is also DFA disbursing officer this is for women and children first it's nine point five nine million is to construct a multipurpose Committee facility for women and children first that will enable health monitoring education and work for victims of domestic violence and there's also a handle at your desk that shows a map and more information in the document bonded. Next item is on page seventy seven. Page eleven eleven the thirteen it's also DFA's first offers a disbursing officer this is for Philander Smith College it's five billion appropriation is to expand the Johnson Miller school of allied and public health on page seventy nine. Is the next request is again denied disbursing officer this is for the Arkansas rule health partnership it's ten million appropriation this is to address critical needs of Arkansas rule hospitals through operational efficiencies workforce recruitment training retention needs entering so services and more and I just know that there's also a five million dollar grant from DHS is also on the agenda as F. one for the preparation to be the for the funding. Does the next item is on page eighty seven. The seven is the fifteen this is Black River technical college at four point six billion appropriation is to construct a short term housing and training facility to function as a regional emergency response center center for health improvement I'm sorry as a center for health monitoring and community center for support services it's also short term housing for the law enforcement training academy this item is on page ninety nine. One page ninety nine in Southeast Arkansas college is three million appropriation this is to construct the student community center for work education health monitoring Nicks items of page one hundred eleven. On page hundred eleven this is the chest Division of aging adult behavior health request for five million appropriation is to support training and certification of teams employed by behavioral health agencies including intensive in home services next item is Page one hundred seventeen. Page one seventeen is request from DHS medical services this is for sixty million appropriation is to provide immediate relief to hospitals determined to be in jeopardy of closure. and then export request is page one hundred twenty three. One hundred twenty three this is the item D. nineteen and these next four items request the one last month supplemental agenda the damaging was not taking a by the committees and other on this month's agenda D. nineteen is DFA disbursing officer is twenty five thousand this is to allow for reimbursement to employees and employers for the Costco testing of employees exempt from termination due to the vaccine mandates next item is page one hundred twenty seven. On page twenty seven this is for game and fish commission it's a five million dollar corporation is to construct infrastructure to modernize how waters use captured in in re use of the lone oak fish hatchery Nicks items page one hundred thirty three. One patient thirty three is the twenty one this is also gamefish this is fifteen million an appropriation is to renovate thirteen thousand acres of green to read as wars in the by in a wildlife management area next item was page one hundred thirty seven. On page thirty seven Z. twenty two this is the last request is two hundred eighty million for the Department agriculture two hundred seventy million that would fund grant program similar to the EPA's clean water state revolving fund and drinking water state revolving fund ten million go to your nation projects in the grandparent and biomedical. Thank you those are all the your quest from this your committee. Thank you so member there's a lot of requests here and I've heard from several members and I think we're probably gonna have some lengthy discussion here today. Not even sure how to handle this or how to start with it I mean look at this real quick. But this is the with this up. Yes Senator Dismang has some comments to make it just to. Can I have a discussion about what we're looking at and if everyone understands we are getting to the end of the road in regards to carry that money so if we were to release the three hundred million dollars plus today there'd be a little over three hundred million dollars remaining and again we're getting at the end of the road on these funds we want to make sure then that we're very diligent and how we prioritize the spending these dollars and if you listen to your communities I think most hospitals in the state are truckers struggling at some level in particular because of the cost of nurses at this point other increased health care costs we need to be mindful of that we need to make sure that were your ties in health care I believe but again that's going to be up to this committee and then ultimately up a LC on how we do that so as we work through this just please keep in mind that we we have a limited number of funds available we make sure that we're doing the best we can provide benefit to the state as a whole with that I'll turn it back over. Thank you Senator Hickey you're recognized yes and I was a just going to say we we've we've had a discussion members about all this over the weekend. And kind of echo what the center Dismang said you know we do feel like with our hospitals and thing each one of us have to think what what is our priorities that are coming over the next month and I know that myself and a representative vote over there we've had a we had a hospital is closed within our district and I will tell you right now it is zero fun whenever that happens. So I think what we need to do is we hear that some of these hospitals were in trouble and I don't want the hospital to get out here you all excited thinking they're gonna block of money because what I would say is that if this body decides to do that the nose hospitals need to understand that they need to bring a plan before us that not that shows exactly what they're going to use the money for it has to be something that doesn't have any fluff in it but it also has just has to be a plan that they're going to commit the following to make sure that they're going to be solving over the long run so I think there's a lot of work to be done as it relates to some of these items same thing with some of the nursing programs that are here I know that a lot of the water the members both the Senate and house we've had some discussions I think that everybody knows that there's a need within this state but how that money is being spent I think that we need to drill down with that we need to make sure that the students are passing out of those institutions the way that we feel that they should so that those we can get those nurses out in the field and working as soon as possible so I just wanted to echo that so that I know this may get to be a link the discussion. But I want everybody kind of no way at least from a macro level of the discussions and Ben had over the weekend and even prior to that thank you. All right thank you. Thank we could just kind of referencing back to what's available the total amount of request if we could have someone from BFA just come up and answer some basic questions about where we are this probably helpful pool report and five members that you have your packet. State your name for the record please thank you members of the committee on aleve and chief of staff for the department finance administration I it's my understanding DFA's kind of the first place that we go for items that are then released to the steering committee for consideration and so today at what was the total dollar amount that we have this the requested to come from the steering committee. They are the funds Senator the total amount of requests that are before the committee today is four hundred and fourteen million four hundred and forty four thousand eight hundred fifty seven dollars one fourteen million how many funds how much how much do we have an funds not not taking away the former fourteen. Prior to prior to the August eighteenth steering committee meeting there were six eight hundred sixty seven million four hundred and two thousand two hundred forty five dollars available in the American rescue plan funds so released the full fourteen will Allen peer I mean in A. L. C. on Friday we have roughly three hundred fifty million no Sir we have a proper one four hundred and fifty two point fifty million remaining. Okay. All right and then all right and one thing that I'm not really clear on myself and so maybe we can get an overview of the different buckets that are available from the federal level so there's a particular one I'm most confused on is the capital projects on which I think it was a hundred fifty million and we have you know the one that we're talking about today then ultimately there's going to be the infrastructure money which and I'm not sure the status is on that so if you could just kind of walk us through what each three of those buckets can be utilized for by the states we know. You know what what we're how we should be categorizing these things have you can't what and all those who wanted time so if you can just walk through the purpose of the funds that were we're looking at today what are they supposed to be used for that and center if I'm may have referred to anti Babbitt who is also a member of the DFA team. The capital projects findings as proximately hundred and fifty eight hundred fifty eight point six million dollars that funding was available primarily with a focus on broadband it also it was the has a focus on community based community development based projects that serve a a a CoV connected or a healthcare related community based overall need it allowed for a a couple of others in any may be able to speak more specifically to that but the hundred fifty eight point six billion dollars in Arkansas will be. Significantly divided to broadband broadband okay but does not have to be utilized for broadband but that's what we do we know how much we've generally thought we would allocate up to the hundred fifty eight towards broadband we're we're moving moving in toward a consensus of allocating the the bulk of that if not all of that to broadband related project because we originally thought we would allocate a hundred million out of the A. R. P. money but word instead of allocating of A. R. P. money we're gonna allocated out of the capital projects on that's prepares correct okay that's relatively new as far as a decision at least is right where one all right and so then the second so that the transfer money that we're talking about the four hundred fourteen million will be pulling from as eight hundred sixty seven of ballots today what are those funds supposed to be used for for the for the feds there's a there's a a broad range of uses that in the treasury guidance provides a broad outline of of eligible activities of those funds can be used for Alice standing to be perhaps a bit more specific on the needs of a broad we've used a number of those funds have been in response the pandemic for healthcare related needs for emergency beds emergency staffing for a hospital's that's what the I. H. significant portion of that initial trial much that we received went for and then we've used some of that money for broadband we've used it for other other needs across the state and the steering committee maintains a a spreadsheet that we share with that the bureau and is available to members and I've if I can provide that as well of every proposal every project that's been funded and and how that money flow through and and what's what's been dispersed and what's remaining to be dispersed it is there anything out there that outlines the remaining request that have not been considered by the steering committee there just that are sitting there or you know to be considered there are there's not a specific document. But there are as the governor early on in the American rescue plan process the governor initiated three different task force to look at areas of need within the state one of them was broadband and workforce issues related one was water wastewater related and then one task force worked with the the hospitality tourism the supporting industries around that that area of our economy those task force met and had private sector participation as well as internal. And Administration representation and try to collect information determined some the needs of the state how those in industry sectors were impacted and then try to prioritize request amount okay and then the last so then we can you know that I take this to the last which is the infrastructure now or those funds available at this point for you know draw down or what is the the how that works with those funds can be utilized for hi I'm an up center on my apologies I'm not is engaged in familiar with the infrastructure the interest there is an infrastructure planning committee and that the infrastructure dollars flow to the different departments across state government they don't necessarily flow through DFA but there is a there's a working group that secretary Keogh at energy and environment chairs that are working the a significant portion of that goes to the highway department and not and in various other departments any maybe up to speak to that with more. Sure. Just take a sample analyst all muscles funds come in the states very decentralized a lot of them are just additional funding to existing programs there are some competitive grants that agencies are applying for however it's going to be over a five year training and so what you're seeing in the news proximally five billion we're only going to get about a hundred two billion dollars a year and again those are in existing programs so how does that coordinate then back with the other funds of Francis I think on infrastructure you can use it for waste water you can use it there some monies that you know wastewater broadband and that sort of thing And so how do we maximize our prioritize utilization the funds to make sure that we're coordinating all of these different pots that are available in getting the big big bang that we can for those dollars. At the center it's a it's a communication challenge and it's or a a reporting challenge for us it from from DFA's perspective we we serve on that have representatives on that And attend those infrastructure steering committees we are in contact with the various departments across the state are trying to make trying to to gather information and and look at the money that they are potentially going to receive some of it is formula based some of it is competitive grant opportunities to try to overlay that with what's been spent out of carers previously what's been spent out of the American rescue plan and to look forward as to how we can leverage all the federal dollars that are coming into the state we don't we certainly don't want to try to duplicate programs we and and from a reporting and compliance standpoint and it's very important that we that we kind of overlay all the different funding sources to make sure that we're not duplicating and and paying for certain any particular item twice and and how we report that for compliance thank you for me prioritization is the biggest concern and you know it the best I can tell right now we're probably in a first come first serve basis for project request that are coming through the steering committee I don't know how else to describe you know how things are coming before us for a minute that unless you've got you even like me in some other way besides first come first serve my concern is getting at the end of those dollars and then there be a number of projects that were worthy or needed consideration but maybe time didn't allow that to occur and so how do we at what what is again I think you all are the best I understand from what I've been told you all or the you know though the watchdogs and what goes between we have to the steering committee how do we ensure that we have the correct prioritization by taking a global look at all the request especially now we're coming to the end. I mean understanding the beginning there's you know a lot of money out there maybe you may be first come first serve works in that situation but when we're talking about spending nearly half of what's remaining for these funds today you know we're where we go next I think it's it's critical so you can just kind of walk me through how we prioritize things that yes Sir we. We've looked at and we maintain a we maintain a master list of every proposal that's been submitted for consideration of those proposals are are vetted internally within DFA's but also we have a consultant that the the legislature was supported in and allowing us to engage in so we have an outside consultant national consulting firm that looks as extremely familiar with the the treasury guidance the eligibility activity that we run each one of those proposals through every an extensive review process with you T. H. and and have ready or acting as our consultants. Obviously worked with us on the care spending and there continue to work with us on the the American rescue plan so a determination is made whether they are it's an eligible activity whether to an eligible activity a number of those proposals are and require us to go back to the entities that are submitting them gathering additional information talk to them about the the issues that may be preventing them from being an eligible project and so there's there's a. A three tiered status is eligible ineligible and then those that are continue to be in review in which ended gather additional information the the steering committee Has looked at proposals that have been deemed eligible and and have basically I mean we've tried to to look at the the the areas of the priorities of the state that have been presented the the water waste water but previously a significant amount of focus has been on pandemic response in health care related needs and a number of the proposals that are on the agenda today even the university proposals that are on the agenda that I continue to kind of fall into that category of trying to meet the healthcare needs to meet the staffing needs with a CNA programs and Ellen the LPN programs first responder type training programs to try to need that healthcare response need that the state continues to see over time and then also looking at the properties that came out of the tax force activity that was that that looked out across those industry sectors business sectors to determine what those priorities would look like so there were just make sure I understand in so to be able to make it to the steering committee means a first test to be eligible and that's really the only criteria so the rest of projects because we're not prioritizing are we letting the steering committee prioritize are we letting whose program. If it's eligible goes before the securing steering committee for a vote is that correct or what are these ones that are holding that I just I guess my assumption would be that none of the ones being held right now or are ready to be that it because maybe they're missing something applications that kind of how that's working yes Sir all right and so there if I were if I were to pull list that's release from you of everything that's you know outstanding right now everyone of us has some red flag saying this a day is not ready be is not ready in a in a in a reason why. At eight I would not say everyone of that a number some of those projects or eligible activities and I mean they've been reviewed and they've been determined to be eligible activities are and and they will they will make their way to the steering committee what we've tried to do is is a address as I mentioned kind of the property is the the water and wastewater issues those proposals that we know projects we we know we're gonna have an extended timeline for for development and for engineering and funding and those projects you know the it was the the committee's concern it was the administration's concern that those projects our are are timely from for moving forward from the standpoint that that it's going to take an extended period of time to to initiate those projects and complete those before the steering committee meets deciding with the steering committee's going to consider. That we work in cooperation with the Department secretaries across the administration we work in cooperation with the the governor's office okay and to to look at what the priorities are or should be perhaps and and we make a recommendation of the steering committee makes a recommendation to the governor the governor makes a recommendation to members of alleged and I'm gonna say I'm still not very clear on how we protest these projects and we make sure that everything that truly has a high need it's getting funded at the you know you know in in stage one or you know or of what's remaining but but I doubt I'll I need of taking up too much time the Committee thank you for your indulgence. You're welcome to take over share T. up for that today now I have a couple follow up questions on that so how many requests are deemed eligible that you have held for whatever reason and not submitted to the steering committee. Represent great I don't I don't have that specific number. We can I can certainly like that by the end of the committee today okay I need that and that's something to you Senator Dismang point is what we're seeing haphazard requests some of which do I think they relate to the pandemic no I don't think they day I want to see what requests are being hailed that are eligible that haven't made it through that steering committee income our way yet okay okay. Real quick before and I want to do this elementary raise a as I've got so many lights lit up is there anyone that has any questions for the FNA looks like raise your hand all right I'll do you representative Ladyman and you are in seat forty you're recognized. Thank you madam chair of a question is on the nineteen here Yes. And it talks about the employee vaccination testing reimbursement question on that is. It is a I'm over here. does this cover some of the requests that the pharmacy is made when they were giving vaccinations and and fusions they rented buildings and all that we had there was a request before the committee. for that those funds and at the time that request was made you had not received the second payment. And. Public health we requested someone from your department. Twice two different meetings Senator Bledsoe and I both requested that nobody came okay we had members of our public health labor and welfare committee Joint Committee. Nobody came nobody we didn't ask for the head of the department okay. And we got a feedback the civil yeah we've got it we think it's going to be germane to the record request the requirements and we think it'll be approved when the money comes in nobody came we got no feedback. So my question is. Number one I would like to know why you didn't send anybody but number two has that request been approved and taking care of. The representative Ladyman let me let me take the first part of the question as far as this twenty five thousand dollars this is simply in relation to an act that was passed in the twenty twenty one session of four. When an employer mandated an employee receive vaccination this was going to reimburse the employee E. for testing in lieu of that vaccination that simply what this is the second part your question we do have a proposal if I remember correctly that would reimburse believe it's the pharmacies for for those infusions and so on and so forth and that is still being. I don't recall Thelma hit if it's eligible or instilling review I believe it is eligible at this point of the please don't help me that I can get you the exact information and so I think that addresses both of those As far as committee attendance I was not aware I thank Mr dress that reserve Lainey I'm I'm aware of of one's. Previous Invitation to appear in and we had some some time in a sum meeting conflicts that we were not able to attend but we I mean we submit information about the the proposal that has been submitted and the the activity that has been around reviewing the pharmacist our proposal is that Mr Barrett stated there are two different because the proposal that's on the Committee agenda today is a twenty five thousand dollar request and I want to say this the pharmacist request is. Thirteen or or thirteen or fifteen million dollars and intervalos okay so so that request is still pending even though you had that before you ever got the second payment. From the federal government that's still pending yes Sir. Why is that still pending well it's been reviewed and I believe it's been determined as an eligible activity and it's it's it'll come before the steering committee but is the chairman said you're running out of money you're getting down to the end of the road here and and there's if it's a first come first serve basis you don't act on this. When it was probably had a some of these. what what's the plan there I mean and these are these are expenses that pharmacists and we had and other members of our public health committee that want to ask you these questions. And I mean I would think is larger department is you can send somebody but anyway these are mom and pop pharmacies that rented the I have three amendment. Read a district they rented buildings they did the infusion they didn't charge so the hospital's first two hundred dollars to do the infusion they didn't charge for that. And now they're saying Hey I you know I'm a mom and pop I spent twenty thousand dollars and they said it would be covered when I sent it in I don't have the money. So I'd like to know what the status of that is and why it's not been approved. Reserve Lehman I'll I'll certainly research that visit with our team our staff and I'll follow up with an answer. Well I have seen concerning the chairman has to about this is a good example the pharmacist because that request came in the money was gone because you didn't receive the second payment I think there will be things at the end of the line here that the same way I would suggest that you do something like a thirty days keep some money let people know that Hey we're we're about out of money if you've got something out there like these pharmacies. You need to submit it within a time frame and that way you because if you run out of money and you have a situation where these hospitals or pharmacies or whatever. That money I mean and then we're. You know we're we're doing fishing game or doing other things that are you related to the pandemic so that's my suggestion thank you thank you and I think it's fair to say I'm not sure what all information you can get us by the end of this meeting but I mean to his point to that Senator Dismang point we're trying to figure out what our administration's priorities are and we want some transparency about around what those priorities are specially moving forward as we near the end of this and I think help letting us see what's eligible but not been set to the steering committee will help us see what those priorities are and so what if it's possible to get that information to us today that be great if not it will be expected by Friday okay thank you all right thank you and I know this representative Cavenaugh you had questions for DF in a let me get your number sixty eight thank you madam chair I'm over here to your right. Really excuse me I have two questions if you can also why you're getting numbers for us if you can get us the number that we've actually spent on broadband through both whether it's cares whether it's art the whether it's through infrastructure capital whatever we're spending on broadband I'd like a complete number because it's coming in so many different places. And secondary I just want to ask one follow up question that you brought out when you were talking about. How things get brought to the steering committee you brought out that the committee meets and then they develop an agenda. As someone that sits on the steering committee I've never been invited to one of those meetings to help develop that agenda. Was there non legislative input to what was being brought to the agenda. And I if I S. there's not a previous there's not a previous committee meeting prior to the steering committee so the agenda is determined and and cooperation with the administration with the the Department secretaries across the administration and internally within DFAT to to set the agenda it's presented to the steering committee yes I just want to verify us members that set from the legislature on this arpa steering committee we have no input what's brought before the committee. All right yes or no that's correct thank you. Thank you senator Ervin your recognized. Thank you. M.. I think what would be helpful to is if you did a pie chart. I mean we were talking about prioritizing this money and where money has already been spent three cares and arpa should be able to break those down into buckets into a pie chart that way it's very clear because you know this gets back to the discussion of priorities and when you're vetting a lot of these things my concern is when I look at the items that are presented to us within a certain category there's a vast differences between what's been being submitted from one versus another and so if you're vetting these do you have any type of a criteria or. A request that they have more specifics before they're sent to us because I mean there's a huge huge difference on that institutes of higher ed you've got want some that have given me you know twelve it looks like. Twenty yep ten twelve plus pages when one does have a half a page. And. And so when I look through all these and I read through all of them there are vast differences here and you know one one has that they're going to use the money to construct a game room and the theater. Well if I've got if we've got a hospital closing in the state of Arkansas on the verge of closing I don't want to spend money on building the game room. I understand so even within your request that you brought here their son that seems to be you know more completes. With more financial information and exactly how that's going to help us move the needle forward in relation to why these hospitals are on the verge of closing which is because the cost of healthcare has dramatically risen because they're such a shortage of nurses we understand that in personnel and doctors I mean but that cost has has risen dramatically because a covert across the board and we've done everything we can to supplant those costs. But I gave room is not something that I can support using covert money to build or a twelve hundred seat. The other. I mean I'm looking for you all to say. There's there's there's there's a clear difference there between even just the items that are listed and I don't know how your process is working but. This this is not something that's appropriate for us to be able to make any kind of decisions on and after very much appreciate your your comments and your questions Senator Irvin and and. While the narrative may not capture and we have represent as if each one of the the universities that are here that will be more than willing to come to the table and and address any questions and a number of the the facilities that are being proposed or the the the activity related to their proposal has to serve additional purposes other than just being a of a recreational or any other type of needed has to it has to serve an additional community wide purpose and in response to the pandemic or response to any type of future crisis that the area would receive so we certainly didn't review projects that only had a construction related need for a at the end or as you mentioned or any other type of rain it had it has other purposes that are connected directly connected to the American rescue plan the funding requirements so it would be more than happy to to ask those universities to kind of try to adjust and and maybe this is a question for the members of the steering committee representative Cavenaugh is a member did any of these institutions come personally before that each of them come before the steering committee. They were. Did each of these did that they present. To this I mean you're asking for individual first come first serve basis the looks like to me. You know. I mean did that did these people come before the steering committee to all the people that do they present. They because I I was only cares Committee and we we asked to make sure that people came before us. Do they have people there to present they did I mean it will we have represented we have representatives were it was that it was exam meeting we had representatives that were available that were identified and that members some members asked specific questions and but yes we had representatives there that were willing and ready to explain their proposals and to defend those proposals. Okay well I mean again I think. You know I can't justify spending money on a game room. When I've got a hospital in the State of Arkansas that may be on the verge of closing. And and I just I can't I can't support that. All right is there anyone else that has questions for DF enable for all right. The New searches for okay Senator Chesterfield recognized thank you so much and may I get back in the queue what do I need to continue with my question no you can you can get back in the queue everybody's pretty much dropped out of the queue at this point so you're welcome to get back in all right we'll. I'd also like to see a chart of the communities to which these programs have been spent on home these programs have been spent. That's basically it for me and services everybody dropped out of the queue do I need to turn off yep turn off and get back in turn back. All right such as senator Chesterfield essentially requested this you know same information you know that we've got in that chart everything's been spent broken out demographically so we can see where what parts of the state the moneys actually on day is. We would like that so I'm going to expand on that we would like that for carers and arpa both. All right senator Hammer you are in share fifty five you're recognized thank you measure capacity if a question and like to make a request to the chair please yes okay to DFA on these request about helping with student aid grant to students successor a has there been any discussion was very discussion committee that given the fact the president Biden is proposing to do the student loan forgiveness how that might play into the request for the emergency grant for student aid assistant or debt consolidation. It center and my apologies I don't have an answer to your question the money or if you're referring to the direct several awards the that were previously reviewed by the committee does my understand those are or were American rescue plan funds that were sent directly to the universities that they did not flow through DFA or they didn't have any influence or any responsibility from the the steering committee so we didn't we didn't Have any interaction with the the use of those funds okay thank you Matt I think Senator Hammer those of those requests were just the direct federal requests and not part of the steering committee deliberation okay thank you a request of the chair please yes. Back to representative layman's point about the of pharmacies a Texas couple mine was sitting here and they were requested to set up the infusion centers and they have not at least ones that I'm talking with have not been reimbursed for that yet although they put in for reimbursement also said that they're still fighting with United healthcare in order to get reimbursement along with some of the other insurance companies I don't know how the chair would want to handle this but I think if we could have that looked upon or looked into as far as how much is the insurance company's responsibility for that and help narrow down to what we might have to do to assist them to make up the difference you want to send that to a subcommittee or whatever I'm just putting that out there for consideration of chair thank you all right let me think on that one just a little bit what we're what we continue meeting and see what what we can do with that. Let me ask this of the FNA. Somebody question kind of a kind of relate to that to help me in this decision process they're a the the request for the pharmacies for this infusion money what was what's that request and tail was it's you're gonna reimbursement costs from were they going to submit something for all costs just the difference between what the cost was and what insurance are we paying for uninsured what what was the substance of that. Reserve gray I I can't speak specifically that project I don't know Mr Babbitt can but my apologies. The representative Grady organ request of them it is the difference between what they may have perceived on insurance we're gonna make a document that that's what we're looking for so it'll be the the difference between what it costs and what they were received on insurance or what they didn't receive at all so we're just going reimbursement for that piece of it doesn't make sense it it does It's a little more complicated than that but it does have. Let me think on that senator Hammer now welcome up with that yes. Right. You are to share forty. Representative late when you're recognized manager I appreciate you let me speak I'm not a member the committee I really appreciate that but This came before the public health committee we talk about the details okay the what they're requesting is not related to the insurance. This is they rented buildings. When you get an infusion it takes two hours. They these pharmacies did not have room if you all go to the mom and pop pharmacy you know it's a small building so they had to rent a building insurance wouldn't cover that they had to hire extra nurses because it takes two hours so an eight hour shifting on the like for people or so these are extra costs that they had above what you would just normally send them for insurance. So you know I I I don't think that's a relevant answers when you say that did you request them to send you that information. We are continuing to work with them to I didn't ask for his continuing asset if you request it. We will request the the pharmacy association so you have not it's been three months you have not requested that to my knowledge we have not at this point thank thank you manager. To those of you on Public Health this representive Ladyman is this something that I can send a public health and you guys could have an extra meeting on. Okay. We've talked about this in two different meetings without the FAA and they there so I don't know that it needs to go to an action committee so I was just a subcommittee thank you I don't have anyone up center we have questions ready if name or comment. I mean I think what representative Ladyman points out I mean is you've you've got some request out there that need a lot more specifics that are health care related COVID related. You know where I mean I know that they were clinics or hospitals that everybody incurred I think what you've highlighted is that everybody in the health care real had to hire more personnel at a higher cost. Those higher overhead costs continue to rise and reimbursements whether they were from Medicare or Medicaid or insurance are stagnant so so that is the predicament that we're in you can you can look at it that way but. You know I think. It highlights I think where we're at right now with priorities and understanding this money and understanding that I feel uncomfortable spending money on wish list items or items that would be great when these kinds of things are still out there that are not fully vetted or understood and then you know puts these people that are in health care that have been in the trenches with COVID these people have been in the trenches your doctor's clinic sure nurses clinics or pharmacies or hospitals have been in the trenches dealing with COVID period. And so we these things have to be understood they have to be intentional they have to be prioritized and they have to be fully vetted and then we need to spend money with an intention and a goal and a purpose to move the state fort. I don't know what that is when we P. smell the stuff together and I'm interested in actually making sure we have a full recovery and we don't lose anybody along the way that's been in the trenches dealing with this day in and day out. And so you know I appreciate the conversation I think it highlights where we're at with these requests thank you represent Ladyman. All right one more time Rosaleda will recognize you then move on to the items in thank you madam chair had a question before I interrupted you on that last one I apologize for that but. Senator Irvin I mean I I want to respond will but what's he saying we talk about hospitals you know closing or in financial difficulty. Some people don't realize during the pandemic and and we have these discussions and public health but it doesn't seem to get out there but anyway when hospitals were required to allocate bids for code. They did not take of surgeries for it was a long period of time we're surgeries were put offered or they were not of done we'll if you're in a business in your income stream which to to a hospital that surgeries and rooms that got that one way they still got to keep the lights on they still have to pay the bills they still have to pay their employees so their costs were the same or even higher their income was down. And that's why many of them got into financial situation but how do you request funds for that and explain it. To a commission I I don't know how you do that if I was the person requesting that I would know how to ask for that money because a loss of income. It says right in there that rescue funds are not for loss of income. But anyway that's not my question is it and this goes back to what we've been talking to. This money was for the pandemic. Now. Thank you to taking office in game but on the twenty one there's a request for fifteen million dollars. Says this project would renovate water control structures in the infrastructure needed to manage water in the bottle metal wildlife management area how is that related to the pandemic. I mean I don't understand how it's related to that we may have. To the senator's point hospitals closing and we're spending fifteen million dollars. You know for something that's not and and and and that's not the only one and I I don't mean defect pecan fishing game just want to solve it how in the heck is that related to the pandemic we may have other costs out there that need to be addressed. Represent Ladyman at at a I understand appreciate your question I would certainly need to defer to game and fish. With respect to the the private proposals that game and fish's brought forward they have have been. Part of that ongoing discussion about the overall water and waste water needs across the in the entire state and how those those specific projects built in to the watersheds and and that it's not a specific answer to your question and as to how it all ties back to COVID but I would I would do for respectfully to game and fish. For asking for the funds under I mean or any other department you know what they've got to get this looks like a good project I don't that is not their fault that they're asking for money but the commission should look at this and say Hey this is not eligible for these funds it doesn't say anything in this is about the accounting this is not about wastewater. It does talk about flood control. But I mean if they can maintain a balance on how they make that work. But anyway thank you for your comments. All right thank you back to you senator Hammer you have to come back to the decision on this so this really ate what you're requesting on the pharmacist fees and the infusions up that's not on the agenda it's not something that's technically before Pierce I'm not entirely sure that I can actually do anything with it I think we've made our point I think the FNA is going to bring us more information by Friday and hopefully we will see that movie I think they'll be willing to go before public health in the near future and get that on the steering committee Agenda rather quickly so I think our points been made satisfactory for you senator Hammer. All right thank you all right so what we're gonna do now we're going to move on to you are the regular agenda Senator Chesterfield been very patient. So also a recognized user Chesterfield but real quick I want you guys to stay at the table throughout this the estimates I think we're gonna have more questions which is why we had more chairs brought up so. Hang out with this for awhile Senator Chesterfield thank you madam chair and they say patience is a virtue. So I'm trying to be very virtuous today I'm concerned because it's very disheartening to find out about the meeting before the meeting that was referred to earlier. I especially when I called each person that would probably be a part of that meeting to gain understanding of what how we are proceeding today. within that me and within the conversation earlier although it probably has gotten lost on some of you is that some of these entities did not have a good pass rate as far as it's nursing programs were concerned let me say this You A. B. B. at one time did not have a good pass rate its pass rate is excellent now landers Smith has never had a nursing program and therefore and that is an applicable to them I am here to talk about the necessity of us moving forward with training CNA and licensed practical nurses. We need that across the state but especially in minority communities. Because there is a dearth of CNA's and there's a dearth of licensed practical nurses we're at the mercy of travelling nurses we can call you can charge as much as a hundred fifty dollars an hour. Hundred fifty an hour in some two hundred because they know now they're worth. In the past we were able to take nurses for granted we can't do that anymore so the program to which I'm referring is the Philander program which proposes that we may be able to train CNA and licensed practical nurses and that those individuals will be my majority minority individuals that will serve minority communities but also all communities and so as we look at these projects I would ask that we look at the individual and understand that we have worked with D. F. and eight at the lander for over five months trying to get this just right so that it fits the description that is stated in the guidelines it says that which is a correct critical community needs made apparent by Colbert nineteen public health emergency those are within the rules. It meets a critical community needs made a parent but COVID nineteen public health emergency. There is no more critical need then for us to be able to have licensee in As and licensed practical nurses so I would ask you to consider favorably the program proposal from Philander Smith College which proposes to deal with that specific issue. In addition to that it will allow the community health center to also provide fresh food in a food desert because there is no food accessibility within from right knee parent to main street from Markham Street to thirty third street in the city of little rock we need this project approved we stand ready to answer any questions but I would ask that in the totality of our discussions let's look at what we came to discuss today I understand the needs of pharmacy because I am a person who does who deals with a local pharmacy not a big chain city pharmacy is a community pharmacist that's a discussion that we can have even if we made a if we agree to each item in this agenda we almost have a half billion dollars left in the budget. In the budget. And so what we're trying to do is to address a critical need. That we're talking about that is identified within the rules. And please know that if there are questions they are individuals here from Philander Smith to answer those questions but we're talking about five million dollars. Two eight an H. B. C. U.. Out of all of these billions of dollars that we have access access to I would ask a good vote on this particular project thank you madam chair are at thank you so that Senator Dismang and I've been talking a let's Senator Hickey of a comment first what Senator Dismang and I'd like to do actually is bring each one up one by one scare questions out and then it worked through the agenda but I let you go ahead and make some comments. Yeah I think Senator Chesterfield normal make this assumption that you know you're saying based upon what my comments were at the beginning of the meeting that we want to look at you know how students were passing whether passing their boards I think that's all inclusive and I was very careful I didn't name anybody's name within any of that that was each and everyone each and everyone of those institutions I heard you also mention like to food bank if that need exist then you know if people are not getting supplied food then yes I think we need to look at that I guess the issue that we've had with just a whole variety of this stuff on this whole agenda is whether or not we've done our due diligence the way that we needed to and so that's I just wanna make that clear that you know I believe at least from my standpoint and a lot of members that I've talked to and if I was supposed to call you I apologize but at least from my standpoint I think that's where we're at I think everybody wants to see that things are being prioritized as dissenter displaying it said I mean we've got three blocks of money whether it's the capital the infrastructure of the article you know I have questions do we even have an individual that's hired this trying to manage between those because if we have and I'm going to use water projects don't think I'm using it I'm just the one that out but water projects can be paid for by Arkema Andy and also infrastructure money. Are we one hundred percent sure that we shouldn't be paying all of that out of the infrastructure money because possibly something that we may need to use our money for may not be able to be used out of. Out of any of the other funds so this is such a broad thing I don't want anybody to think that they're getting up near the finger put on them it's just we're looking at this from a macro standpoint to try to make sure that everything's flowing the way it should is Senator Dismang said you know with this last box of money that we have so I appreciate you allowing me to say that senator senator. There are. what we're gonna do Wesley. Senator Hammer is it what let's we'll we'll clear the mikes right now and we're gonna start we're just going to go with the eight Arkansas tech and I have Arkansas take come to the table if you have questions for Arkansas tech please get in the queue. if you will please state your name for the record. Jamie Fisher associate vice president of admin and finance so they to you. Bursitis chancer Ozark campus Arkansas tech university all right thank you. I'm assuming this is a question probably gonna ask everybody that comes up today and so this is nothing directed you in particular in in maybe one that actually if it's gonna be a great answer we have nursing programs all over the state successful nursing programs all over the state the need expanding to be able to meet the healthcare needs in the state. You know what I'm trying to understand is I mean I've local here nursing programs in my district I talk to those schools they had no idea that this was something that the steering committee or the executive branch for that matter we're looking to do. So when you all major application which I think is a very thorough application I do appreciate that very very much. Knowing that you will use did someone approach to all about expanding your program or was this something that you all kind of took your own realizes statewide need and just submitted application. Sir thank you for the question yes we do realize it's a statewide need I do not recall exactly how I was informed that this project might be able to be funded sometime before Christmas but yes thank you and then for DFA then on a project like this I mean obviously we have various programs around the state that could benefit from institutional dollars to be able to expand their program how did we notify schools for instance that they should put in an application and then. We're all schools notified that this was a possibility because again I I think I could speak to mine and they would tell you that they did not know they need to submit application because that they did not know that this was an act you know as a possibility for them to receive funds from. Thank you senator Dismang. M.. We have had a website up and running for a number of months that laid out the criteria link to the various federal laws and guidance that was available so as far as direct communication as far as I know there has been non from DF ninety with any of the universities okay so men on their side and let me play this out for you because this is my concern. You don't know what you don't know and clearly some did and some did not. I have nursing programs that also could utilize dollars for expansion. But because they didn't know because they don't have a conversation with the correct person. They're not here for us today to submit a request and in fact were in this first come first served basis whatever prioritization that I could never understand even with the explanation. I'm not sure that they could. Now tech is here because somehow they knew that this is something that they can present try to push through the the steering committee and I applaud them for doing nothing against which are trying to do but if we realized in Flanders Smith. I mean if we realized that there this would mean I don't I don't I guess my question me what did you think the response is going to be for the members that had nursing programs or the steering committee they had nursing programs with similar needs but weren't made aware that the dollars were going to be available or did you get the first come first served basis we what what we should not have set up a program a lot much larger program pinpointed dollar amount and said Hey if you've got a program we're going to take a look at what you have to submit an application be very thorough lactic as been. You know submit your request for going to prioritize those we're going to send to the your committee for consideration but instead I'm not sure what we're doing how much money should we allocate towards nursing programs. Ten million fifteen million twenty million thirty million. How much money do we need for nursing programs in the state to get the level of nurses that we think that we need in our health care industry. At the center I don't have an answer to your question I believe we to my knowledge we have it surveyed the overall the the total nursing and I completely understand that and that is not only in my my point is is we've got to do a better job prioritizing because there are limited numbers of dollars available and at some point they're going to run out. And when they run out we're not gonna be able to expand its mission programs with these dollars that we lost work because we're going to spend on other things there are not healthcare related. So you're not. Alas that question probably throughout the day thank. All right thank you and I've been a quick question and and your proposals very thorough just kind of summarize for me how many additional allied health slots are you looking at opening up with this money. So madam chair we anticipate opening up sixteen to twenty additional spots for cohort which would be per year annually okay I'm and that would be the first phase second phase would would actually we would introduce a transition program into our ends or PNG could actually stacked their credential into our integrity that would take another year. Okay are there any other questions I've got Senator Chesterfield you're recognized thank you manager just to be clear Philander Smith came to me I didn't know anything about this program. And so I assume that these individual these these colleges and universities that are asking. Monitor these websites to see what moneys are available and then reach out and try to to obtain some of the money for programs that they feel and assess a day I can assure you I didn't know anything about this all I hear about is are the opera Fund come people appear in council each month so I was pleasantly surprised to have them reach out to me and say we would like to take advantage of this but I'm not sure that anybody from DF and they reached out to any of these institutions but they did have a website that was accessible to everyone so I just wanted to make that clear thank you. Thank you senator Davis you're recognized. Thank you madam chair and that Senator is make you weren't trying to be harsh on Arkansas tech at all and so I just want to take a moment to clarify to that tech graduates more healthcare professionals than any other institution in the state with the exception of UAMS so this is something they've been working on for over well over a year now I know looking at trying to find funds to renovate Morton hall in the some things I mean they're trying to take existing infrastructure that they already have and it renovated in a way that can be use of it's not no longer boarded up with plywood and whatever else so and I just wanted to make the statement that they're doing everything they can to use what they already have an existence to expand that nursing program and and in graduate more medical professionals and they currently are which they're doing at and a very great rate and like I said it's something they were looking at and long before it's not just money they heard about and decided to find a way to set so that they could get the money but it was something they've been having conversations with the governor's office within I know federal and people at the federal level and so I just wanted to make that point thank you thank you. Senator Hammer you're recognized. Thank you ma'am chair I know one of the challenges and deal with the nursing program is the ability to retain the instructors because they've left and gone after the traveling nursing dollars wearing your proposal do you address how you're going to increase the salary for the nursing instructors because you'll have instructors it's it's really challenging correct Senator these monies were obligated toward capital projects so this project does not address a salary issue it is a concern always is a big very competitive fortunately we've been able to at this point B. hello hold on to our nursing faculty who we are. Reshape greatly are are you understaffed on your nursing facility on your nursing instructors and is that a limitation to your ability to grow your program regardless whatever you do to your facility that that is correct in order to hello Basically create additional sponsor slots for students it does require a student faculty ratio and for us to expand we will have to obligate moneys south toward salary in order to course hired appropriate nursing staff and are you limit are you limited in the usage of this money to increase your instructor salary and if you're going to get this money to do facility that are you going to increase your instructor's salary so as to be able to retain them maybe even at the risk of making some of your other instructors and some of the other fields a little bit upset. So we we do address instructor salaries you know by market rate and you know and by a regional comparator once again we're not able to utilize these monies for salaries and it is something that's always a concern and it is a pressure. But there's also a quality of life that are instructors enjoy time and that's one of the reasons that used to be instructors because they understand the legacy that they leave thank you thank you thank you. Thank you senator when you're recognized. Thank you just quick question there's a vast difference between your proposal on some of the other proposals that we're looking at did were you given any direction from the FNA on what to include in your proposal. No Senator actually Senator Davis was accurate we've been planning for expansion optically in this three county area for practice nurses for number of years the the obstacle that we faced was space and and we had a a roof space under roof space but it currently still looks like a a nursing home for the nineteen sixties then we store boxes and. Now I understand I just you know in looking at the differences Blake again going back to what's the achievable goal here how can we be most effective with this money in achieving what you want to achieve what I think we want to achieve the how do we do that we're it's consistent across the state so that you're meeting the same expectation that's given to you that others need to meet that same expectation that we're putting on you does that make sense so to me if we need to as a legislature we should have an expectation I criteria so that we know that if we're spending money is going to be in the most effective way possible and that's intentional and that it meets a desired purpose and a goal for the state of Arkansas considering every factor in so I don't want to hold you to a different standard than other people may be held to I don't think that's right or that's fair so you know you were holding you to the standard you're studying for yourself which may be higher or lower or lower than some other institution that's in the same business that you're in I don't see how that's actually fair because it may be that you know we're holding you to a higher standard expecting more out of this money from you that we are from somebody else I don't think that's fair to Arkansas tech so again that goes back to the FNA setting a priority based on criteria and we we've done that in the past in different areas when it comes to yes stakeholder input is part of your proposal that's not consistent and other proposals so. I see a map I appreciate the answer to the question. All right thank you I have no other questions for you guys so thank you you're welcome to. To leave. Next I've got University of Arkansas at Monticello if they could please come to the table. And I'd like to say one thing real quick they like to Senator Davis to your question is I'm sitting here thinking through this I don't want anyone to think I mean that a great proposal I think it's much needed no one's disputing the fact that we need more healthcare professionals I think part of my my consternation and maybe some of the other members that I've heard from is what was the criteria set forward why do we not open this up to all school someone should be managing it was the statewide plan for nursing shortage across the whole state not just for one particular area so I just want to fill that out there that supportive of the project itself but I would like to see a statewide plan as well so all right if you could please recognize yourself. Yes ma'am my name's Alex Beckham the vice chancellor for finance and administration at UAM. Good morning my name is John Davis director government relations at UAM all right Senator Dismang thank you also the star of the FAA First how many these HVAC projects have we grandmothers a lot of direct HVAC projects that have been completed if you even look in the list that we have today and we have at least two I may have missed one but those were you know direct request how many have we granted through the steering committee for HVAC projects for universities. I will have to go back and look at the previous steering committees and I'll get you that you think that we've done any one two three at I would hate to speculate I'm sorry I just would hate as I'm going to yeah. Do we think we've done one. And here's the reason I'm asking. I mean everyone has HVAC needs in the state and others probably not a system in the state that does have an F. failing HVAC system and as part of their maintenance operations to take care of those replace those capital investment if it's a planned thing you've got a six million dollar HVAC cost up a look at its flooring electrical and few other things to. So. We're other entities notified that they needed to be coming to the steering committee and asking for additional dollars for H. HVAC and electrical needs and that sort of thing I mean we've got a six million dollar request here just to support their you know maintenance your typical maintenance we've got tech they had a three point two million to overhaul and create programs lots and you know essentially kick off the nursing school I mean how how does this Prower ties in the scheme of things this six million dollars Senator I think if and in their continued escalation I think they're they're project they're HVAC program or project is specifically tied to a program that is tied to the medicals building yes medical services and also an intimate I'm not sure I totally understand your question but in previous funding and we funded out of cares we funded a number of HVAC related. Projects that were I'm is ation that were that were trying to put additional filtrate air filtration systems I know we need that for him facilities apartment corrections and we did some of those for others so I don't know if that's what you're referring to but the state is different than University systems in my opinion yes because university students like to think of themselves as competitive I think amongst each other and so anything that we're doing to interject ourselves again I would imagine that I have HVAC systems in my district at a public schools that need to have some improvement they you know they may request to direct money did y'all request rec money for your HVAC program we receive direct money but we did not use that for the mechanical an H. back on the science center on the main campus we did do some in one of our technical campuses and Crossett but not on the main campus do you think the FAA that we're going to just like this when approved if it's in a medical building and they've got an HVAC need that same make an application and submitted to the cares act in I mean we model retrieving this when someone pre I'm sending the proof the rest is we're telling the world today with this that we need to need to have some HVAC upgrades in in maintenance brought before the steering committee for consideration or how do we prioritize. One one schools HVAC no over need over another. It Senator I would I would make the argument that it's not specifically the HVAC step some it's it's the HVAC system in a facility that has a health related or COVID related or a pandemic related it's not a it's not a good answer to your a complete answers your question but we're in I can assure you we're not out trying to to find ways to simply improve somebody's HVAC I'm trying to understand the prioritization because because the neighbor will needed six million dollars is a lot of money specially I mean because we're not just doing HVAC were doing electrical in flooring and pretty much a remodel the building it looks like to me but I have to I need to so all the medical all the schools that have a medical related building. I mean just put on notice probably just need to make an application. Submitted to this year's activity or steers Committee that way we can you know bring for the body considered I mean it I'm I am just concerned about where we're headed and I mean I think you under that I understand that I think some of it suggests I think we understand that too but I just don't I don't know where it ends nothing against. It your your universe that's not the issue I just don't know how we're prioritizing how we're going to get to the end of the road because we've got a limited number of dollars for spending a very quickly and I understand Sir Chesterfield we've got nearly four hundred fifty million dollars remaining fully prohibiting today but at six million dollars awak that'll go pretty quick. So thank you. All right senator Chesterfield you're recognized thank you ma'am sure what I'm interested in knowing since all these people here do we intend to take a vote on this today. And if so are we talking about doing it on each individual project are we talking about batching in passing as a group or having these folks come and say that we're not going to do anything I guess I need to know because I'm sure there had of that in a meeting before the meeting that was already decide. I am I am fully expect that yes we'll take a vote on these items today thank you your Hickey expand on that dark good night. Let me just say this of course is always up to this committee on how you want to proceed personally. And I'm not gonna say that there's not a item or two on here that we don't say yes we need to go ahead and vote for approval we buy we do vote for. But I think that from a macro standpoint as we've been talking about we feel that there's other. Ways that would be better as we've heard we think we need to know how much we're going to put into this nursing program have the criteria if there needs to be grant programs of for HVAC units and we need to figure out what those blocks of money are and across the state everybody needs to be able to apply for those and then the department needs to prioritize those to bring bring before this committee. So I guess the I feel like I need it to answer that. And we try to start that all saying that this was an issue with the property with the amount of money that we see this left we want to make sure that work we're taking money out of the a correct bucket it's just a it's just a whole host of things that we see that needs to be done. Thank you ma'am. You're recognized center just thank you would you please clarify who this we is. You keep saying we have decided who yes this is what one of them would be myself I mean it has to be the and you were part of that or whoever you elected as leadership of. In that so I know who the we is because it certainly wasn't hasn't yet yes ma'am Missa House and Senate leadership will you know along with the ALC and budget. So all of you guys have met before this meeting and we have decided we how we're going to proceed today I think it's important that we respect these people's time if you're not going to vote on it let's just say to them we're not going to want to project today. Senator Hester feel if that was my intent I can promise you I would have said that at the beginning of a meeting and not wasted everyone's time I understand that man but I'm talking to Senate let me if you know my time trying to I think the truth I think the truth is always the best thing to say there's been ongoing conversations of course as you know AOC is met quicker than a month so Uproxx me two to three weeks ago we had a male C. meeting there was some stuff that was put on the speak specifically the water projects were put on a supplemental agenda and we do not look at those at that time because we wanted more time to look at I think that's been ongoing would really and I have to look back to text I started looking through this hundred and forty page. Your agenda I guess of Senator Dismang and I had a discussion Friday I started Saturday morning we started going through the things and all of this you know we were looking at these big blocks of money and over the weekend all weekend early Monday morning we started looking at that we started talking with some other members of the House. Of to make sure that we thought that this was the best thing to do for the state the way that it was being presented you know we've been pretty pretty up front with everyone here that. We just in the beginning saying we thought we had issues with that we've also talked to the governor's office early this morning he made himself available to be able to discuss this stuff with us so it's not like we're not trying to do our due diligence so so no ma'am so in other words the leadership is is has decided. That will bring all these people in. But we have great consternation with the way it's being handled therefore we're not and we're not prepared to date the week to whom you refer I'm not prepared to data both of these projects you're going to put him off is that correct no ma'am that's always up to this body I understand that but the we would prefer it being done that way. Myself personally the only person I can speak for here and I would say on the vast majority of them yes but I would not say that on everyone thank you thank you thank you mention. Thank you senator rice. I'll just quickly chairmen here. One of the jobs of the legislature. Is to be involved. And I'm not making accusations against arpa Committee or care committee or anything else yes it has legislators on but they're in the minority. It's been stated in this meeting that the agenda they don't have anything to do with the agenda. They don't know what's going to be brought up they don't have much say. When you're doing zoom you're not having. What I would call a great meeting because the interaction is just not there. I don't think our per Committee bets. Very well. That's just me I'm not condemning anybody else you spend your time and you work at it that's what we're doing right now. We're betting we're spending our time in working on this it's not an accusation against any agency or institution. But that's our job to make sure tax money is spent correctly. And maybe to get the biggest bang for the Buck. That's what our interest is it's not against and again. Somebody not getting something somebody else getting so that's what we're supposed to do. Thank you Mr right after. Eric thank you are there any other questions why we have you may want to sell at the table. R. as a nine thank you appreciate it all right to get to you a pine bluff to the table. I read if you would please state your name for the record. Good morning Carla Martin vice chancellor for finance and administration. Good morning Adrian Childs associate vice chancellor for finance and administration all right thank you you know as I'm looking through your proposal and it starts on page I think fifty seven It is very detailed and I appreciate that what. We are we are we're not adding any additional programs for nursing or allied health professionals not in this request on this request okay what so I was looking what's what relates to code I think I saw maybe a of a student health center or something you are correct so I request for three million dollars ties to the wellness center the COVID monitoring in our infirmary and it also ties to the mental health and counseling center that will be in a larger facility okay. Okay. Are there any other questions I know Senator Dismang I'm sure has one Senator Irvin you're recognized. Yeah thank you I mean thank you again I you know I go to and I'm not trying to pick on anybody's Senate you know but but you have and I appreciate that you put it in here but I think yours is the proposal that wants to build the game room in the theater and you know I understand that this technically would meet the criteria of but it looks like so long as there's a healthcare hook then we can kind of do whatever we would like to do and I'm I'm not sure if that's I mean I'll give you the opportunity to respond to that just because I'm the one that brought that up I think you know how wellness centres and infirmaries and mental health centers are are extraordinarily important I'm just I'm just again trying to justify a you know that as the impart of what's being built if you would like to respond that be fine. So I didn't hear a clear question but I'll take a stab at responding to the project as a whole the project is a thirty five million dollar project to build a student engagement center which does contain a theater and it does contain a game room it also contains international programming office it contains a student success center it also contains an office of workforce development for a career services four ACT campus so I request to you today tie specifically to the five thousand five hundred square feet that's tied to the I call it will list or a health minor team for our particular campus over COVID we had an opportunity to partner with J. R. M. C. the Arkansas department of health DO drive through a covert testing and vaccinations we did this regularly for our students as well so I request His to just that particular amount because funds have already been identified for the theater and the game room. Okay thank you for yes. Senator Hammer. Thank you thank you Mr I'm looking at the polls on I'm on page sixty five. Our page sixty five archer what yours is but the. Thank you is any of this money at the C. statements as to peers reinforce the belief that educated peer person is more balanced individual in determining his or her destiny I'm just curious what wrapped around some of that and how much of the money would be used for for this particular part. So I don't have the actual print out that you all have so if I can share with a finance here give me just a second to review that page this is your it also has a reproductive are in practitioner. And some others is that part of the staffers how much of the money would be allocated for that particular purpose so no money is being allocated for staffing. Okay. Why is it listed in the requesting. Would you give me your page again at the it might be page eight of years. Senate right after. The copy that we're using here is not necessarily matching up specifically with your senate medical services of the proposal. So. Under counseling services. It It so right above counseling services that full paragraph right above that. The about the counseling services yes Sir solution under medical services category. Senator would you mind asking your questions your time please if none of the money it that's the request is going to be used. Why is it even included in the proposal because it would give the impression of portion of money is going to be allocated would be used for or what's listed under medical services so I think the information that was provided in doctor Alexander's proposal talks about all of the things that are going to take place in that overall facility and it is not tied to us utilizing fines for the For that part time medical doctor in advance advanced practice registered nurse nurse that is in here so I think it speaks to just some of the things that we are doing to further our focus on wellness and providing medical services in these areas okay thank you yes. You. Representative Dotson you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chair to your right here so this is a a three million dollar request over a. Thirty five million dollar project that so what happens or what your plan if if this request is not part of this proposal what are you going to be cutting out of your thirty five million dollar proposal or you just going to continue to your capital campaign to raise the distal funds elsewhere so it is our hope that you would find favorable our request first and foremost but should that not happen on today I'm we're going to continue our efforts to make sure that we are able to provide services to our students provide services to those in the Arkansas Delta they need this additional help as it relates to cope with. Okay and so the. I guess it. Overall this is a project that. I'm assuming was was in plans prior to covid. Or is it just all this thirty five million dollar project all as a result of code so the student engagement center was we were working towards getting a student engagement center before covid after covid we realized the need to have a larger infirmary we realized the need to expand our mental health and counseling service areas and we needed to do some major work as related to wellness just health and wellness for our students and so we changed some of our student engagement plans to make room for those areas in the student engagement center to offer larger spaces to them be this project so the additional. Size and scope of the project that you're doing is reflected in the three million dollar request yes okay thank you. All right seeing no other questions thank you for your time we're going to move to. D. eleven. Some. And anybody here from northwest technical institute all right. This is second of the night nursing programs that correct. Good identify yourself of the committee on good morning I'm jim Rollins president of the northwest technical institute I have with me two of my vice presidents dont go ahead don Raines vice president in human resources and facilities. My family last president finance and this is for expansion of your nursing program. Senator we are in the. In the process of bringing forward a new medical education building on our campus we've been working on this project over the last year in partnership with the major hospitals in our region and numerous clinics currently at the northwest technical institute we're preparing about a hundred. LPN CNA is a server during the course of the year the growing medical community in our region requires us to do much more with the new facility that we're proposing it as a medical education building we. I fully intend and are planning for tripling that number there's a major workforce gap in the medical industry in our region that medical industry this past year created well over four thousand jobs about eighty five percent of those jobs are what we term mental skill development jobs entry level jobs somewhere between the high school degree but less than the four year degree and and with our expanding facility we thank the number of graduates produced annually will go a long way closing the workforce gap in the medical industry in our region we believe the the cost of the facility best case projections today are about fifteen million dollars we have worked with interested partners from all across the region and to date we have about eight million identified and where the five million dollars from the state that would bring our total to thirteen million we've been working with the congressional committee at the national level that has committed to another two million so we're in the fund raising process or a state agency we have to raise all the money is required for the construction of the building so this state grant would be a major part of our fundraising efforts and you have really brings life into that project thank you Senator Irvin recognized quiz thank you and. So what was the total again of your building this would be a brand new facility at the facility itself is projected to cost about fifty million dollars fifteen or fifteen fifteen we have to bring that those funds together obviously before we can let business under a line of the buildings complete it is a state of the art facility which should serve our school and our state for many many many years. It is an investment in preparing students for careers in medicine correct so at a sense of this so I'm. And again you have just a one pager here whereas some of these other proposals have multiple pages so did you get any direction on the type of information center is much larger than that you have a so six summary of what our proposed a plan was but. Well we got good feedback from the agency they were good partners they suggested to areas that needed additional strengthening and we've address those again what you have in front of you as a summary that I've I believe D. F. and I have brought for. On the Avanade I mean so why is wire some summaries I have a page or one page and some are twenty plus pages. In reviewing the packet you received in some cases you receive the complete application from these institutions and in some cases it was as Strawn said it's just a simple summary that was put together for the community. Well how. How are we supposed to. So you're kind of picking and choosing what you put before us no ma'am that was not the intent I mean I know but how my supposed to make a complete decision if I don't have but just a summary on this one but the full thing on this one and you know these folks have gone to great detail about how many people that they're educating how much they're going to be spending in this area this area this area for an achievable goal of meeting the needs. Whereas some of these and you know don't have any details of that they may have it but we don't have in front of us I mean again yeah I think those things are important so let's say if we we've got a goal here the goal stated for that for the use of this fifty million dollars is going to be to increase at the work force we got a pot of money a fifty million dollars this is the criteria that we think we you should meet this is how much we thank you need to spend on increasing your. Facilities making sure you're paying your staff and whatever but there's an intentional. And an intentional request of information so that we are on a fair playing ground across the state of Arkansas and then we go and we reach out to all the institutes of higher ed that do have nursing programs or allied health care programs and say we would really like for you to apply for this grant program we have that has a specific criteria because this is the goal that we're trying to achieve for the state of Arkansas because we know we have a need. And so. Then we we have an actual something that we can point to for the taxpayers of the state of Arkansas that says we're going to spend this amount of money to achieve this goal and this is how this is a road map and this is the plan that we're using to achieve this goal. And we know we're going to prioritize these based on your success rate your need. Where the need is in the State of Arkansas what it looks like a cross in the State of Arkansas as an entire point of view in a picture the needs of demographics where we might need more minority individuals and we we don't have those. You know. That would make sense to me. And so I again I appreciate you all being here appreciate the summary that is been provided to me that that's not enough information from for us to be able to look at this thoughtfully and with an intention of being accountable to the taxpayers of the state of Arkansas. All right thank you senator we are there any of other questions what we have them at the table. representative Dotson is this for them you're recognized. Thank you madam chair doctor Rollins it refresh my memory on something you just said I think you said right now you're educating around a hundred LPNs and CNAS and the the various and you're expecting to triple that three hundred is that the the number on yes Sir we we're currently serving and preparing about a hundred medical students a year and this the new facility will last report number we believe that will be easily three have so three hundred additional medical personnel serving as a whole two hundred two hundred additional on an annual basis for once this facility opens. Yes Sir that's correct thank you. All right senator Hammer in real quick probably from here for risking a recognized committee members because we've got a lot to still get three but you're recognized. Thank measure be quick but same over here to your left yes Sir same question I asked one of the previous schools and that is regarding your instructors if you're going to double your capacity what accommodations have you made in your budget or proposal to be able to hire the instructors and pay them at a at a rate where you'll be able to retain him your point is well taken there's clearly an issue in regards to salaries for our nurses were working diligently and have with a higher ed and the Department of it throughout the year we have proposals in place those proposals have been very of well received and we've been encouraged but I think as a state as a legislative body we have to recognize the point that you're making and worked diligently to improve salaries for our nurses without question one quick follow up manager. You're recognized so part of the issue is if we give your nursing instructors of pay raise over your engineering professors and others might cause an internal strife within the institution how would you propose the given the critical need for nursing shortage and we cannot build all buildings one building do all these things are great things nobody can question that but if you don't have the instructors then you're not going to be able to produce a student or you're not going to produce quality students I just want to know if you are asking for this amount of money what your plan is in order to be able to address that issue the two issues need to come forward together will have to that will have to take place over time to legislative of consultation et cetera the need is clear nursing instructors as compared to what nurses can make even as independent contractors is. Graphically different and the. We must do what is required to bring quality instructors to our classrooms and again I do think your work is taking place in arcing Association very focused on that and I know the members of this group are equally focused on that so I think we will find a way together to make the necessary adjustments in terms of of the questions you ask about strife that it will be a part of the equation that cannot be overlooked and we're gonna have to prioritize and use resources based on the priority needs of our state thank you Sir thank you Mr. All right thank you say no other questions you're free to leave thank you. All right to take just one out of order here and I'm gonna ask for Philander Smith to come up and that way we've got all our higher it's kind of grouped together at one time. Right if you will please state your name for the record. Four hundred eighty. Good morning I'm latonya Hayes and I am the vice president for sponsored programs in CFO. Good morning oceanic county Johnson I'm the interim vice president for academic affairs chief academic officer all right thank you just a question as I was reading their your summary here I'm you're talking about to prepare to expand the foundation three areas LPN CNA and then the pantry and fresh market how exactly are you looking to expand your LPN and CNA program are you looking are you committed to a certain number of additional slots per year yes we've been approved for CNA program and we're going to run a covert of twenty four students every other month so committing to producing one hundred and forty four C. N. A.'s year our LPN program is towards the end of its creation as well and we're going to produce two cohorts of twenty students per year for forty per year okay and you have approval on that program as well that one is going to the pipeline now we have approval for CNA okay okay. Are there any other questions for Philander Smith. Yep I've got a couple Senator Irvin you're recognized thank you guys and again I'm right here and did y'all get any direction from the FNA about what would been needed in your application or to shall just at with these types of details that would just ask our representative gray about. You know what your plan was or was there you know if we build something. Is this is this building at a facility of building or is it building a program. So it's a multi purpose facility it's our kindle center which would host the academic part of the program which is the health program we also have an additional building the elders community health resource clinic which is that clinic that's open to our campus now that but part of this proposal is of is for it to expand to the community and so and our community partners or community residents come to campus to use the healthcare facility they will not only get healthcare services vaccination services what we what we have been providing since the pandemic but to also be able to visit our food pantry which is open only to our campus at the moment but through this proposal is also to expand it to the community as well so when they're there they will be able to access our health clinic our pantry and then also we days and LPNs in our community okay if if you were asked to provide information about you know how many instructors you have on staff for the I'm just just just focusing on the CNA the LPN program if you were asked to provide information that stated you know you have a plan so let's let's March out into a financial plan and then a timeline plan and then so you know how many you're going to be able to produce of of the CNA's and then what you're expected budget it's going to be in your allocation of how your funding that budget for the expansion of that program we if you were asked to do that would you all be able to provide like those levels of detail our yes absolutely and in we have a few different versions of the application process to this date and so that is included in other other applications as well we have separate funding we've I worked on for salaries because this of course does not cover that and so that. Those plans are already written and we receive funding for salaries Senate grants orders okay so this is just this is more for capital builds all of it is capital capital build okay and then you would you know have methods of financing for all those different components to like get a clear picture of of what this would look like and then the LPN program that has in the pipeline that's not approved what's your timeline on that two new plants submit in October so you haven't submitted it yet no. Okay the curriculum has been developed and it's going for submission in October okay and and do you know how long that process will take I was told sixty days maximum but probably quicker with the programs and legally through state board of nursing at this time. Okay thank you for answering questions you're welcome. Senator Hickey you're recognized yes ma'am I'm up here just question could you expand a little bit you mentioned something about expanding your food bank is that correct yes could you go into a little more detail how much of I mean dollars out of this total request are you putting their and have you done any analysis on all of that. So yes of and it in a request for the food pantry we we have not will we ask for was to help support the infrastructure costs because Belinda Smith College is a gated campus community to keep our students safe first and foremost opening up to the community is serving in the health clinic and also in the pantry will create more needs for security and infrastructure for those for our new of constituents that will be serving and so in order to do that I believe in the proposal you see right here for the panther pantry it is. There's two hundred fifty thousand to help with making in the build in eighty a compliant. And then we have a new campus in of eight entry point that has to be established to help with the traffic for the influx of new individuals that will be coming to our campus for our security which includes new security station as well and also different call boxes on campus because we plan to be open five days a week with the pantry and also on the weekends and also with our health clinic we need to make sure our students have safe spaces especially if you've been in downtown little rock we have a large whole or half whole housing insecure population as we want to make sure our students at all times are safe and so we've created a with in the capital investment or these capital funds that type of into infrastructure to make sure that our campus stay safe while we open it up to the community so these are this is this is basically a a totally new project that y'all haven't been involved in as far as the community is that is that kind of what I'm hearing with that part this is new right so this is my next question and somebody always likes to spend stuff wrong say well if you don't wanna one's people be hungry which is not the truth but if we're going to prioritize I have to ask these tough questions so what you understand that within the community now are there other entities that are out there serving this food is or this great need that we've established that we did any of have we done any analysis on that type of stuff it's it's a huge need we're actually in a food desert and so throughout the pandemic what we've done is we've opened up to the community in limited basis during our vaccinations committee our vaccination clinics as well we become a community partner for that and during those days the pantry will also set up and provide food for people who come through for the vaccination clinics we we provides we take our food out of campus outside to the. ET to our housing insert your population that surrounds the immediate community we've been fortunate to receive several grants even grants recently from Arkansas hunger relief alliance to support our work because we're doing such great work in the community but this is just the first effort of actually opening our doors and publicizing and giving to the community and time to actually come in and shop on campus that are answering last one with just if you could quickly what what do you do how is it is or how do you define food desert is that is there some is it just something you say because the day's first time apart at that word or is it just is there some definition within that where there is a certain the amount of food is not available or is that it's it's it has to deal with the amount of distance between of fresh food source or food source and that location and so as Senator Chesterfield explained earlier they are not a not a lot of grocery stores available to the community where Philander Smith College states and so in order to get if you live in the twelfth street area for example you have to go all the way to Markham or Ronnie parents gets a grocery store we have to go all the way down to Maine where there's a chest one grocery store there's not access to groceries immediately available as you would see in other parts of town when there are maybe four or five grocery stores right there and look in a facility within a mile or two it's actually the and then these areas also have transportation needs that students don't have that the community don't have that were reliant on transportation to get us to and so if those food sources are close or that transportation is not available then you don't have to access in the summers we also help participate in the summer food programs for students as well in order to be us. Fite we've been aside for that for our community so this is not something that's new because of the pandemic it's just been exacerbated because of the pain to. Representative Dotson you're recognized. Thank you madam chair So. OR you're right it. This going back to something you said I was trying to do the math on it and are you eight you're anticipating that a hundred and eighty eight new students annually would be what you plan to graduate and fill the work force with with LPN Sienna is one forty four one forty four C. N. A.'s and forty LPN so hundred eighty eight total so so roughly about the same as last. They were estimate around two hundred a year new students for similar type investment of five million dollars is this the total project or is it just a component of a larger capital project. So this is the this is the total. The five million dollar request that we have encompasses the CNA LPN program the expansion of our elders community health resource clinic and also this expansion of our food pantry and housed in the services that we provide so it's the total project thank you. Right representative Vaught you're recognized thank you madam chair I think this question might be for you or for staff so do we the people who were brought proposals before us that we know of passing rate that they have on their testing at the end of the state testing that has to be taken before they can get their licensors do we know the passing rate for any of the schools at not to my knowledge we don't know and I know with Philander Smith there's or new programs so there will be a pass a pass rate for them right now but for DF in a do you know if any of that was vetted through the steering committee at all or through the application process. Thank you representative great that was not part of the initial applications the pass rate can strictly addressing COVID or covered related issues it's hard to know how to vote yes if we don't know if they are actually. If they can actually go through the program and pass the test at the end because I know that we have some schools that are having trouble with the whole passing of the test and then mine my next question will be do we know how many slots are actually available at the schools that have asked for not counting this school but the slots that are actually available because I know there's only a certain number of slots that are available we actually with each we've asked that each school that's come up that okay that in like the last one there is an additional two hundred slots that were gonna be available throughout the year and they've been approved like they are approved slots that's what I mean. Our state placement as well as once they graduate yes I will. I can answer that but I can tell you and working in healthcare what's brought before so based on nearly enough okay all right thank you madam chair yeah. All right we're gonna go in order Senator Irvin you're recognized then we'll get you next senator Chesterfield. Okay I'm sorry I don't have a question. I don't have a question I'm I'm. Yes thank you so much you have to speak to senator Baltz concern about pass rates let me say that the lender has been blessed to be the only institution they had a one hundred percent pass rate on the praxis which is one of more difficult tests to take every student that went through that program was immersed and pass successfully the practice exam so I anticipate the same kind of immersion in test taking skills necessary for these young people to pass either the CNA exam or the LPN exam but that has been their campus's over the years so that individuals will be able to pass this test thank you very much. Our other any other questions for Philander Smith we've got them at the table R. at C. ninety you guys are dismissed thank you. Sticking with my us. By higher ed we're gonna go to Black River technical college if you could please come to the table. And then Southeast Arkansas college year next so be ready. This is Black River technical college if you could please state your name for the record. Intellyx read. It over it yet thank you okay thank you I'm Rhonda stone I'm vice president of finance and administration. I'm Karen Lee Palmer vice president of institutional advancement legislative liaison okay thank you and your starts on page eighty seven are you just save me time are you at are you adding any new slots for allied health L. B. and C. N. A.'s organs we're looking at I had pass rates numbers if you guys need does and classroom rates we are looking at doing accelerated training so a part of the part of that will be as needed from the institutions including hospitals clinics and whatever so we're able to be responsive to their needs but also look at doubling our CNA's and all our EMTs and hopefully doubling our law enforcement okay when you say doubling what numbers are we going from intake for CNA we have about sixty students now so we're hoping to go to about a hundred and twenty and that is including academic and also non credit so if the student doesn't want to go through the college academic pathway they can just pay out of pocket and get it non credit also still going through the proper vetting and licensing processes and then for EMT we have about the same number around sixty for that group to so looking at going a hundred and twenty probably hundred there and then for our law enforcement training center which this facility would use about twenty six weeks of the year they would have to have a hundred and twenty students now are looking at adding another forty five to sixty okay and the pass rates on those Leding guys are and Girls are pretty much ninety percent depending on the and any problems we have with the cadets and then the others are in the mid eighties the the our current lan and R. N. and practical nurse sings are in the hundreds and and one of one hundred one eleven ninety okay are there any questions why we have them at the table. Senate when you're recognized thank you and I know you know I used to represent this area loves loves representing you guys I know that this is been a long time needs or wants or whatever for the housing for law enforcement training you know I just have to ask you know if I mean I know that we know that this is been on the radar for a long time yes. So I mean I I for me I guess that we just need to be and do you know were you given any kind of direction as to and I do appreciate the in the area of EMTs I think that's another issue do you all do you do you do first responder training as well okay yes and so that is this eight this is a capital. Yes okay Andy and could you if you have the availability To provide details on just your EMT programs and you're nursing programs with the Secretary of with that goal and all those things you would have that information to be able to submit would be happy to send that to that I think I appreciate that thank you. All right other any other questions what we have them at the table. Hi C. nine thank you very much thank you all right up next number sixteen southeast Arkansas college please and then. A waiting after then we'll go back up to number twelve women and children first. If you could please state your name for the record manager committee members good morning doctor Stephen Blumberg president Southeast Arkansas college. Good morning Debbie Wallace vice president for fiscal affairs Southeast Arkansas college all right thank you can the same question I asked before are we looking at expanding any allied health care professions. With this. Ma'am sure yes part of our proposal centered around adding additional capacity for allied health program so for example some of our need is driven by Jefferson regional Medical Center for those of you that may not be familiar we are the primary provider of most of the allied health positions for Jefferson regional so this proposal has opportunities to expand our licensed practical nursing a new program called patient care technician you may be familiar with that Jefferson regional utilizes a significant number of individuals as patient care technician so this is an expansion of those programs is adding occupational therapy physical therapy assistant expanding classroom opportunity for our registered nurse program as well so we we admitted our largest are in class this fall thirty two students and so in the future will expand our an LPN patient care technician surgical technician physical therapy and occupational therapy assistant. Thank you senator when you're recognized yes again this though is a new building it's a student community center as what I'm reading so. Is that are you building a new building that's going to be a student center. Senator it is actually a new student and and community center part of the the center is a purpose is to provide health care monitoring for individuals may not have access to health care for example there is a walk in health clinic in the facility the facility has been designed in the event of another pandemic or a natural disaster that can be used for mass quarantines could be used for immunizations will be used for if you're looking at our proposal we have numbers as far as the individuals in the community we would assist with health care screenings cholesterol screenings diabetes blood pressure and so the building is really designed to assist both our student population and the community population not just in pine bluff and Southeast Arkansas. Okay. M. all right we are you able to To provide additional information like so if we build this building or we give you the three million dollars to build this building would you be able to provide you know financial information of sustainability and then results and things like that and goals and stated goals of you know this is where we're at this is what we plan to produce I mean again I'm I'm I'm there's there's a big difference between you know being specific about a program verses finding a healthcare hook and building what we want to build I'm not trying to be. I'm I'm just trying to do my job and I think there's a clear and distinct difference. And again stated goal maybe we need to build you know across the state of Arkansas we need to look and see where we are lacking student centers I gave two hundred fifty thousand dollars and general improvement funds to Ozark a college to build exactly what you're talking about Mountain View Arkansas never happens. They're not here though you know requesting something so. Yeah again I just wanna make sure that were real clear about the stated purpose of the funding and then the ability to back that up with a plan of sustainability for professors instructors and then desired outcome in goal. And I guess that's my concern so so that that's different you know for me of a program that's very focused on a program as a different facility than a student center which may include other things so I mean you can answer that I just you would be able though the question would be you be able to give us more specific details about your program and those kinds of things and center on the financial planning absolutely I would also like to to point out to your your your point this is actually a fourteen million dollar project cases three million of the fourteen million I think our project is unique we actually have a signed memorandum of agreement with Jefferson County Jefferson County has also contributed to this project if there is another significant pandemic which of course we also hope there isn't but if there is I will become a joint command center with the college and Jefferson County and so facility was really designed to be very unique and so unfortunate we have the title it something it had to have a moniker and so student community center probably doesn't encapsulate everything that this building was designed to do but we were successful in receiving some additional funds from our county because they recognize that this facility could be used to combat any public health emergency keeping with the the directions in in the art of funds as well as the funds from the county and so I don't know of any other proposal that has that aspect to it either. So you bring up a good point of the community engagement and sustainability so that that's a good point you know should there be a requirement that if we're going to put money in our other people's stuff and not to put money in and that that might be an important criteria that might be a an important standard that we can maybe look at across the state just so that we know that you know the state taxpayers in the state of Arkansas in Bentonville Arkansas isn't the only person supporting this project for you because when I taught when we when we look at the three million dollars or whatever the request is you know we're those are taxpayers from all across the state and we're asking that we spend this money you know and these different areas which may not be in their area that they may never get the benefit from right so I think it's important for us to have those kinds of conversations and. Just the side of that something that is made or not on the previous at we talk about community engagement things like that and we had some conversations about the food desert I know that we put forward a lot of money through the Arkansas hunger relief alliance to address you know the food shortages but I know that there are counties in rural parts of the state of Arkansas where there's only one grocery store in the entire county. So. You know I'm I'm I think we have to be real understanding when we talk about this types of things and what kind of policy direction we're gonna go in but we have to be considerate of the entire states when we have these conversations and decide these suspensions and set those priorities so that we're not and so that were consistent thoughtful with our policy and approach because you know one county. In the state of Arkansas an entire county only has one grocery store and there are some in my area where there's maybe three or four grocery stores for the whole county. The other those are things that we as legislators need to really be thoughtful and working with the executive branch need to be thoughtful intentional about our policy the community engagement is important and maybe that's something that we should consider thank you for the answer. Her representative Dotson you're recognized. Thank you madam chair Just I heard you talking about expansion of students and and the medical personnel training and that sort of thing. Do you have an anticipated amount of additional students that you tend to server graduate as a result of of expanding the student center to represent Dotson thank you for the question just taking each program at at at the time sort patient care technician program right now as of yesterday Jefferson regional needed more than thirty patient care technicians and so I would envision based upon their need and being are our primary employment partner we would probably graduate sixty or more students out of that that program for a year it's an entry level position but to give students an opportunity to gain access to health care at the very lower levels and then obviously have opportunities to engage in other disciplines as well are licensed professional nursing we intend to double our current capacity which is about twenty five students every year so we would admit another twenty five students I mentioned earlier that we admitted our largest are in class this fall thirty two students on this facility will allow us to double that number particularly as it relates to didactic instruction because we don't have to worry about having multiple professors in that classroom clinical so as you heard from everyone else is a real struggle for all of us and so we would add between these programs are new physical therapy assistant program about a hundred two hundred twenty five students per year very conservatively speaking it may be higher than that but I wanted to give this committee numbers that I feel comfortable with that are institution can certainly defend thank you appreciate that. Is made yet okay so I'm I'm still confused because we're talking about buildings because we let off talk about how we were going to grow our health care programs. But really this is a student center that's going to be utilized for a shelter or a quarantine center or a you know some other healthcare related type things that's how we get it qualify for the three. But I mean I think what the chair's asking what represent Dotson's ask is how many students about how or how are you adding students by building a student center. How does that add to your health care. Our facilities right now or are we are out of space and so since the for us by by having new space for nursing allied health it gives us the opportunity to expand what we have now so we we have a lack of square footage on our campus for these types of programs this gives us an opportunity to expand were in the past with it so you're going to move maybe the existing student center to this and then use the existing student center for classrooms but we we actually don't have a student center. So where exactly are you going to House what's going to be housed in your in this new student center that's going to drive you edition all students right so this is thirty three thousand square feet in total and so about half of that square footage is devoted to nursing and allied health and so that gives us an necessary square foot to expand the programs we just talked about so for example patient care technician physical therapy assistant the other programs we're talking about expansion of licensed practical nursing that space will allow us to expand our current programming okay thank you. Okay represented what you're recognized thank you madam chair I think I'm more confused now than what I was. I'm so I'd maybe my questions for the FNA so how does this apply to the. To the COVID funds and what they're supposed to be used for how did you all determined that this was. Worthy of COVID funds. In this case the arc skews me. A follow up to create an application with us and with the tie and to health care expansion. Which that was just answered that was the tie and COVID to make it eligible. To maim madam chair that's a far stretch but I guess I'll take that as an answer. All right thank you and that I think you know on page one two is where it shows your nursing allied health professions programs that will be included so I I miss that when I read through this I appreciate that knowing that you're actually gonna House those programs in that facility and that helps my understanding so I don't see any other questions for you also thank you very much I appreciate it. Thank you senator Ervin I'm going to recognize you for a point of personal privilege. Thank you madam chair and members I'm so excited to have Mr Ethan dos with us today and his mother Esther if you'll stand up even is thirteen years old and he is from Mountain View and he's and ninety grade he's been home schooled all the years of his schooling M. he's a fabulous fabulous young man he's active member of four H. and he's a member of his local pathfinder club and he's also in team and team leadership training program so today is his day of watching us an accent I hope it's been educational. He's not going to go back home and be like oh my word I never name to and Missy was like this but anyway I appreciate I hope it's been a good and fruitful Education free today welcome and thank you for being with us. All right thank you and okay we'll keep go in so just so we all kind of know the agenda here today we have review that starts at one thirty the membership overlaps to some degree so I'd like to go to about twelve thirty here I'd like to be to work through this agenda if we can if not we will reconvene fifteen minutes upon adjournment of review just so you all know what's happening so I need women and children's first to please come to the table and then next after them is going to be the Arkansas rural health partnership. I read you could please state your name for the record. Angela my cry executive director of women and children first. I'm happy Brown past board chair and The chair of the campaign of courage. Thank you for letting us be there thank you Senator Dismang you're recognized thank you and so you know we have various shelters across the state I'm sure many need funding need help I know local one that I have does and they receive no state help and were not notified that they needed to contact the steering committee to try to receive help. Just for DFA so if we I mean is this a priority to do this across the state one for this one organization and what is the. What what was what how what guidance should I give other domestic shelters. In the state. I'm I'm I'm sorry I've got a question for DFA and then I'll be happy to ask you to Senator there are there any other sources of funding for domestic shelters and other types of entities and those are also federal dollars I I think you we've all talked about nurse mayor with the confines of those funds are received and and are dispersed through our inter government services program on an annual basis and those those funds are and. We're being reduced overtime but those are those are federal passing finds that that we. Mr as well this. And this is obviously a separate program a separate entity that's requesting funds but they operate on a statewide basis as well. Well not quite a statewide basis but they do take folks are individuals in from various parts of the state but as far as this is a ten million dollar request. and again I think the need across the state for the shelters is probably significant. what were other shelters made aware that they needed to apply for this type of funding. We do have other shall we do have other entities I don't. I don't I want to be careful that I use the definition of a shelter but we do have other entities that have are applying their in process that are in review for American rescue plan funds that are that we're reviewing and going through the process yeah thank you. I think this. Again part of my issue is so you know not that your support what they're doing but also let's say I have another hundred million dollars worth requests that come in or you guys do to the steering committee are you going to approve everyone of them have we set any criteria for what we're going to approve moving forward I mean can you ensure that. W. obviously be determined by the steering committee based on the proposals I it we don't have a specific amount of money that set aside for that particular area but obviously I mean there are a lot of worthy projects there's a lot of significant need across the state and I mentioned earlier we do have some other projects that are that are have submitted proposals that are going through the process that are stealing review that will certainly take those in consideration take this the steering committee for for consideration at thank you. Representative love you're recognized. Thank you mentioned this is actually one of the projects that I'm in waiting on because I have worked intimately with with with women and children's first in regards to this project the reason why I'm so passionate this project first laws because. My mom was saying domestic violence survivor but secondly because I work with homelessness I work with domestic violence over the years and since covid we have seen a rise in domestic violence in so that that is the reason why this project actually is so important it's not because and this is going to speak to Senator Dismang this is not a women and children's first project it is a statewide effort the women and children's per first it's just part of the group. this this facility will not only take domestic violence survivors. They will also take human trafficking survivors they will take the other domestic situations into account and so they're working with many entities across the state in order to coordinate the response that we can provide state police is involved Little Rock PD is involved our prosecutors are involved so this is a this is a larger initiative is just one that is is is pretty much led by women chose as first but if you can refer to the mapping. You can see where we have actually worked to coordinate to coordinate services so that we can provide a response state wide so this is just not a this is not just a central Arkansas thing this is a state wide coordinated effort to respond to domestic violence and human trafficking so that just questions answered I think you're on the boards that may make you may know a little bit more than most correct so you're going to coordinate with my local shelter that is in in in my local shelters agreed to coordinate with you that that is correct not only that but let me just give an example say for instance midnight one o'clock in the morning state police by somebody that is that is is going human trafficking they say victims currently right now do you not know that there is not space for the for those human trafficking. And that's reason I'm concerned about the lack of space in my own district twelve and I understand that you may want them to come to little rock but I don't think that that would be their desired place to go it may not be the desire but it may be the only place where they can come and coordinate and so went with organizations like tap another's they can coordinate so that those survivors would not be back in the hands of the traffickers because not that's one of the things that's happening right now is that there's no place to there's no place for us to coordinate you go. And so those victims in right back in the hands of the traffic okay that's so that's what's going on so that's why this effort is so important that we need to coordinate so that we can have a coordinated response for when those situations happen okay one of the things I thank you of the total fund raising effort what what is the ten million dollars come into play and what is the total fund raise request how much trying to race out there how does it fit in your bigger picture where the other dollars coming from that sort of thing that the total amount of our fundraising project is about fifteen million dollars we want to build the building but we also want three years of operating committee so we don't go back to the donors and state thanks for the bricks but we can't pair looked bill. This shelter is not just a shelter it's not just a house. It will be ninety bids versus fifty four that we have now but it will also have the family peace center component which is a really big part of this deal. And that will house the agencies all the agencies that a woman has to go to to put her life back together. To date we've been working on this since twenty fifteen. The family peace center family justice center model started in two thousand two in San Diego when the district attorney thought we got to find a better way to do this. His name is Casey when today there's a hundred and thirty across the U. S. and overseas there's they just open one in Amman Jordan now that's. Seventy nine agencies we have been working on this for so long Angela's been remarkable we have seventy nine agencies that want to be under our roof because the idea is perfect for going to do anything about domestic violence we can get done for a lady that comes in. And and as. I mean there's. It would take twenty one places in Little Rock when a bus because they usually don't have cars. To go to put your life back together and that would take maybe four weeks five weeks. With these agencies under one roof it might take her three or four days. That translates into more people coming to us for services because they don't know what's going on they need to talk to legal aid they need to talk to prosecuting attorney that you. Angela tell you only three percent of domestic violence victims. Stay in a shelter. Ninety seven percent are just out there. We have fifty four beds now. Take three percent ninety seven percent that's about twelve hundred people we can help with ninety beds we can help over three thousand. The shelters the family peace center shelters that have opened up in fort worth. Dallas. Forward especially opening day that two thousand people there door so it's just more than a shelter and I just could go on and on but. Yes Senator Chesterfield said it's a critical need this is a critical state needs this is a big deal Marcy daughter with A. C. H. said it's a public health problem it is and this is a way to solve the problem. Now. The big picture we'd love to take this model to northwest to northeast to southwest southeast and somehow put together a model that makes more sense. Insofar as the so fifteen million dollar total campaign ten million of it will come from this and how much has been raised so far for the remaining five million of well so far we've got four million and then we have a matching grant from a state foundation for four million. So on the on so the total. The total campaign is fifteen and you have eight million in hand right now. I'm trying to I'm just I'm not I've been following this story I'm not trying to all right we have four million that we've got from private and local agencies Giannini eleven our ports we need eleven million eleven million in you're getting ten of that from here and then you have one million left races that rice yes okay thank you. All right thank you in a real quick and then I'll recognize the couple people I have in the queue but you know it looks like they sent this request essentially funds the entire construction of the building and all the rest of the money situation for operating capital so essentially the state's paying for the entire building or the the the Arkansans are you talked about to going to ninety bids will you continue the facility that has the fifty four so is this ninety new or is this just thirty six new. I know this will be a new facility the building that we're in currently is a hundred fifteen years old where are not able to stay in there and much longer and it cost too much for us to do the repairs on. Not just that dates and the area that it would be in it And southwest area of little rock is where most of the clients that we deal with here in this area I come from eight back to senator does does man I hope you don't mind and I I want you to know that and I understand the concern regarding all the other shelters I used to work for the Arkansas coalition against domestic violence and so it is also my goal for every shelter every domestic violence program to receive funding and this has been a discussion that we had at our directors conference just here about a month ago and and I know that they are looking into that as well but because this is unique and different and because it does have the family peace center connected to it and we and and at that time now we work in collaboration with all the other shelters and around the state if there's a lot of people like if you look off that map a lot of people come to Little Rock thinking that there's more opportunities here there's more resources here maybe they can hide better and so there's just a lot of reasons why they might come to us to seek services but I think the particularly during COVID we realize states when government shutdowns were in place and when people just what they have access to transportation even more so than they already don't have they weren't able to get anywhere and so that was the staff and the shelter and that were really happen to try to figure out how to help the people not only in our area at that around the states because it was difficult for all of them and and so I just wanted to make sure I mentioned that in one other point to make is that we have a steering committee this is a very well thought out program we've had some help from the alliance for hope international from San Diego who come in the Dennis study to or with the S. and all the all of the and groups all of our partners. Organizations around the state were invited to that we didn't have a steering committee and at that was developed as a result from the alliance coming back and doing that and it's so recommendations that they made to us was that we have it develop a steering committee so we have the chair and of our steering committee as the director and Jennifer long from the CHC here locally that's the chair that and but we also have people like representative Frederick let this on there we had people like and that's good which the Director of the Arkansas coalition against domestic violence on that and and I I just wanted to bring that at because we know how important it is to bring everybody to the table M. this is been a shadow pandemic people are not talking about it in its shame on S. I mean it really is sameness we really have to figure out a way to help victims because they're they're fearful still and what's happening now is it's exploding because people are finally being able to use their voice in that and the Arkansas crime information center the CIC reported eighty three percent increase in domestic violence related homicides between two thousand nineteen two thousand twenty that was on the onset COVID numbers in Arkansas so I mean I just feel like you know we we really have a responsibility to the women the children in the met. That are dealing with domestic violence around our state. Thank you Senator Hickey a recognized yes ma'am appear just a lot first of all I want you all to understand I think you've been sitting in the audience you know we appreciate you all we appreciate what you to. You know there's not a member probably in this room is not an advocate of what you do but we have business to do and that's what that's what we're doing at this point so I want to make that clear but I've heard multiple comments here about it's across the entire state were working with the state we've invited people have you already developed like memorandums of understanding with these other centers the way that your operate with them what have you have you already developed that type stuff that we don't know about. Thank you and at Senator Hickey for that question and so part of the job for this and steering committee day is developed for the family peace center and making that ad is to develop MO use first the language the policies and procedures behind that we have for workgroups they have broke off from the steering committee and then we have said committees from the work groups so like we have a finding a sustainability workgroup we have a governance workgroup and is in a media marketing type and work group so our governance group is having to work on the in the you know what that would look like not only for the people on our steering committee so like immediately but then those long term that would be in the facility slash those there are partners in the community because obviously not everybody's going to be able to come in underneath the family peace center and still it's a strategic plan that we have a process what happens is once that actually gets developed it those proposals go in front of our voices and a committee and our voices are survivors around the state of Arkansas you actually look at it see if we've missed something and or if it looks good and if it does they take that route propose in the Senate to the steering committee at that point the steering committee will do the exact same thing and after that they make a recommendation that you can go ahead and go for it then it goes to that women and children first board of directors and then at that point with the steering committee and our voices of course the survivors have to be at the top of this the whole time then we will put it into action so it is a really it's a long process but it's one that's in play right now I mean we're working it so but you don't actually have a vote in in place yet I understand your work at home but okay so just I thank you answer my question that'd mean to cut you off there just just one more Senator Dismang ask you about your total. Employing campaign and I believe you said you had four million dollars do you actually have a four million dollars sitting in the bankers at in pledges. So with that in. That's in our either pledges we have three million in the bank And then we'd like I said we have that moved up for man dollar matching grant okay. But whenever you saying the bank though those are those are places that you've already collected on you know what you're telling me yes okay thank you ma'am. Thank you and looking at this is get beginning seven one of twenty two ending six thirty of twenty three does that mean you expect to have this building completely completed within that time frame the construction finished. Will it be amazing if we did that now it would we plan on opening this and in twenty five early twenty five. We have the land the land is awesome like Angela said and it's surrounded by children's hospital clinic the police substation library a mental health and it's it's four acres in the middle middle of this campus it's like the land was waiting for us. We're going to do this and we just really love your help yes no it I'd just to clarify I was looking at this as the appropriation dates I think the award dates go they would like twenty twenty six or something possibly yeah. All right Senator Irvin you're recognized thank you just a quick question to an the FNA if the taxpayers of the state of Arkansas build this building for you did they own it who owns it to the state of Arkansas on this building or building. No ma'am this would be a grant women and children first and they would on the building of for the term of their lease which is ninety nine years. Harry leasing from city Selah Rossin so we're building a so the City of Little Rock will own the building. You're leasing it from them correct in ninety nine years from now. What I understand that but technically the City of Little Rock as we were building the building for so. And okay and then questions of of at the end of. Active night you talk about federal funds and you talked about domestic violence is something I've worked on human trafficking you have a lot of organizations already that do a lot of this coordination when it comes to human trafficking and domestic violence are you familiar with the stopped DMV Court efforts and Faulkner County. Yes I am are you aware that that funding has been dramatically cuts from a this is more DFA nays question to death in a are you aware that the federal funding for for them has dramatically been reduced to where they cannot add they can no longer even afford to pay their director for the stop DMV stop TV courts that they're trying to become the model of for the state of Arkansas and Faulkner County. Which is incredibly important to stopping domestic violence is this program which is. On bare bones has no funding whatsoever to be able to afford their federal funding which has passed through is completely cuts. And to where they don't even know how they can fund their director did the FNA to the steering committee have any conversation about domestic violence and the efforts through partner counties judicial and process with judge Forster and the folks there about stopping domestic violence and how much money that that that would be importance to to stop interesting violence and how we could actually spends money to do a court ride and to do a statewide program just like we do with drug courts and how important that is for victims of domestic abuse. And that would be statewide. And enter our court system and through the Abbas Kissy of those victims in center and it's a very significant issue that that and to answer your question yes we are aware of that and we are conscious of the fact that those fund those federal dollars have been decreasing over the years and we have a have been spending approximately fifteen to twenty million dollars on an annual basis to support programs and entities across the state and I was. We're facing a situation where the the allocation for next year is projected to be around twelve to thirteen million dollars so it's a huge challenge that is across the state and we're up from a so you will record twenty million twenty million twenty million again I don't know how this relates to covid but I mean again you had twenty million in federal funds it's going to twelve million if any of a ten million dollar request here to build a shelter that's only in central Arkansas but I think that and and I'm certainly upon I'm not someone I know that this is under twenty meters twenty million dollars approximately that's been funding those programs but they have other sources of of of funding no I'm not the last week I know some of them that I'm aware of no I don't but and we are looking at we have we have a number of conversations going with the entities across the state that are in that particular area that we need to try to to continue to do an assessment of what those needs are and and mine dissipate it will come back to the steering committee and president additional request it'll cover some of those entities to try to to try to maintain a level of funding that supports those programs no I mean that's not acts really accurate with my meeting with them last week where I've I've they are struggling and so again you know I mean what is our intention here and how we're trying to move this forward you know my area is clearly I have shelters in Baxter county and have a shelter in Cleburne County at a shelter in Stone County are they supposed to just go and hire somebody he's connected to apply for or building a new building because I mean I can tell you those shelters are literally falling apart I mean we've we have teams of use groups I don't volunteer to cut the bushes and the paint the rooms and. Hi how are they supposed in a House my women's shelter in Mountain View Arkansas supposed to know to come to the steering committee and apply for ten million dollars to build a new center for the north central Arkansas which is clearly you know according to your map. Big big hole there. How are they supposed to that's a question for the FNA and again I'm not being critical of what y'all are doing yes but I have I come I'm I grew up in Little Rock. But I live in Mountain View and I live in north central Arkansas and guess what I have lots of folks. That suffer under domestic violence and a lot of children that suffer under domestic violence and they have nowhere to go and I literally have been standing in these. Places painting the walls in the shelters for them an instance and securing payment. They don't have a hot they don't have a connection. You know other than three me. But they don't have a lobbyist shall have a board of directors that are highly politically connected. I'm just being totally honest here because I have to advocate for the people of the State of Arkansas and those people that I represent are poor they're not politically connected they didn't know how to navigate the system. So I mean these are questions for the FNA and not for y'all and I apologize that this is this after having my meetings and people coming to me saying please help us we're doing good work here or making sure that protective orders. Are actually being followed through and we can help these women actually file protective orders against the perpetrators. And now we've got the funding to where those people can't even operates to help those people file a protective order to me that's a priority. Thank you. All right thank you and Senator already mentioned lobbyist or fundraisers you guys are the first ones on the list I guess that are five oh one see three young boys lobbyists or contracting with a lobbyist or fundraisers fundraiser entities we have in the past we have in the past but we have. Not currently not currently you're looking at okay thank you and so members I've got two of you that are in the queue that are not able see members may get fast because I said I was going to recognize anybody or afternoon so representative Cavenaugh you're recognized thank you madam chair. First of all I just want to thank you all during the R. for steering committee I ask for your lease so that I can review it so I got that leaves not just wanted to state this from what I understand when my quick glance at the forty four page lease that you have with the City of Little Rock. They're going to let you have the land for a dollar a year and a ninety nine year lease after that you're leases I mean ninety nine year leases up my understanding is the land in the city then reverts the building and the land reverts to the city of little rock the City of Little Rock within at that point take bids for someone to operate that facility that is the way that I understand that the lease works just wanna put that out there thank you that's correct. All right. Representative flowers you're recognized. Thank you so much madam chair I have appeared as number have been listening all morning and I guess I just want to get an understanding about this the conversations and the questions around statewide focus of statewide access So it sounds to me like the model that you all are looking to replicate a model that other states have adopted to serve the state and to coordinate with other organizations to address domestic violence as well as human sex trafficking my. Do I have an understanding. Correctly. Yes ma'am. And so I guess my question would be number one. to the F. in a. As to A lot of the the proposals that we've heard this morning. I don't think any of them necessarily spread across the state as a program or are located in every county so is there any criteria that is specific to how any of these programs or any of this capital spending would necessarily. Be accessible to every person in the state. I wish I had a great answer for that but it's it is. Thanks a huge challenge to try to meet every need that there is across the state and there are significant needs across the state rather talking about domestic violence with or talking about hospital beds confinement nursing staffing there are there are huge challenges across this state and while the state of Arkansas has received a one point five billion dollars that is a tremendous amount of money hi but the needs are are more significant than even that money so if. five we we try our best to look at. Proposal and we we don't guide proposals we don't solicit proposals we accept proposals and we read review proposals and we we try to be as transparent we try to be as accommodating as we possibly can our and those proposals coming from across the state now what we what we try to do is look at. Where geographically that impact is going and that's it's it's not always. Totally equitable it's not always reasonably equitable it's it's our best. Recommendation on how the dollars can have an impact across the state so these are programs that. That the state DFI has proven the Department the administration has proposed to the steering committee and to you as members of the legislature to look at so that we have Not it may not be a program that impacts every corner of the State individually but we look at and we do take into consideration where investments are going and how we're how we're reaching different areas and geographic corners of the state so that it's not a direct answer your question but it is a it certainly consideration for us it's it's actually an interesting Act it was it wasn't the answer needs of of the state and there are I mentioned earlier that there federal dollars that that we receive on an annual basis on a regular basis that are passed through for any number of different areas and with respect to domestic violence in respect to the the services that are provided we realize that those are diminishing federal resources and and we're taking in consideration where that what that gaps can look like I anticipate that we'll come back to of the steering committee that will come back to members of the legislature and this committee to look at how can we may not be able to make everybody hole we may be able to reach the the previous spending level ever organization but we certainly want to understand what those needs are and we want to take in consideration of requests that we could bring before the and use the American rescue plan funds to try to help fill in what gaps there are and in center your your comment is extremely well placed and we what we need to know what those gaps are we need to know what those needs are and and address those as much as we possibly can thank you so much and madam chair for this indulge me very quickly I I would I was left confused about all the. Questions around statewide focus and gaps and I appreciate Sir your answer about making sure that there's impact across the state I listen to my two year college as well as the four year university in my district speak to very specifically how their proposals would address health issues and would address community issues in requesting for very minimal percentage of the dollars that they already had to Very of this is simply meet the needs that is required for these federal funding for this federal funding and. I just would ask my colleagues to consider that in places that I represent. We are used to unfortunately to a whole lot with a lot less and when you want to talk about fairness and needs and access to resources. Rarely have I been in this room where we were considering something to address the need in Southeast Arkansas. And there was a whole meeting hours. Dedicated to being concerned about fairness and access in meeting needs in my part of the state so as not to be unfair to others where we you know contribute to the tax base for this state as well as for the country these are federal funds and if we are not careful we are going to put our people all all across the state in a situation where they are not able to access the resources to help us on health needs and in our educational institutions. To be prepared for the next health crisis. While all across the country. They will have done so. I really appreciate of women and children first and how you are trying to innovatively address These the needs around. domestic violence and human sex trafficking which we know was impacted greatly during covid. And You know we say that these issues are important to us we have federal resources that it's our job to make sure our applied to these needs in the most equitable way possible and to have the greatest impact across the state. And I would ask. Everyone in this room to remember that. Thank you. All right thank you senator Ervin your recognized thank you I just wanna qualified to say you know I'm not sure if that would actually meet a covert related funds using that moneys for domestic violence courts across the state I'm not sure if it would or not I'm just I'm just I'm saying that because it's you know. That is a state wide policy direction that would affect the entire state but again I just wanna make sure make that clear and I do have a quick question you said that four million of what you currently have with the state grants is that correct NO okay of your eight million. Did you know that okay I just wanna make sure I understood that correctly. Thirty I'm sorry I thought you had like four million pledges and then the four million state grants. No note that the The four man that we currently have the board put up in a million okay ward which is amazing okay and then we had a couple other agencies the Attorney General she gave us some money Sam okay I'm just wondering how much then do you already have of state funding. Right now all we have is one point seven million dollars for FF any that was given to us. Several months ago. Did you get money from the Attorney General it also has a that would be state money okay so how much in state funding do you already have that's two point three. Two point two. Two point two and state money you already have. Yes of the total investment from the taxpayers of the state of Arkansas. Would be two point two million plus this nine point five million yes. With that information that D. F. and I had. D. F. and I did you all have that information about what had already been state money given to this project we at we don't specifically have item I've ever where that they receive money from the secretary of state's office the money that was provided that she mentioned for the furniture fixtures and equipment was in our per request that this committee that that there was a recommendation that the legislatures already approved for women and children first. How much was that. Yes the one point seven. So I'm sorry. At okay well. I'm I'm confused private dollars taxpayer dollars. So what would be how would that be broken down of what you already have. What we have the two point two from the state okay. We have a million dollars from our board. Those are private private we have a four million dollar grant from an Arkansas foundation. That state money tax no it's private foundation private. It is a challenge. Okay. I wanted Centerville jumping for just a second so I think we're all confused here because it in the beginning you're saying we thought you had eight million and then we were no that's really for so what you just said is want to point to from the state one million from the board plus a four million dollar grant that's almost eight million total that four million dollar grant is a challenge grant. The what's that mean well and I'm sorry all that other money the first money was all. Given to us before the challenge grant so the challenge grant has has has to be new money. That makes sense challenger and has to be new money is so it's a matching grant yes that is what you need so with this ten million dollars they're gonna match four million. So you're gonna wind up with close to twenty million dollars for a project the cost under ten million would that be accurate well yes but we said in our originally that we wanted to do a fine of fifteen million dollar campaign. The bulk of it obviously is the building but then we wanted to have a three to four years operating cash operating money so we don't have to go back to the same donors now I'm talking about not state donors I'm talking about private donors okay because we have that. We have building plans in place to we have an architecture architect tire out we're finishing up the building plans right now if we don't continue with this if this money were not approved would you continue with the building you have enough money to fund it at this point we have to do this and we have to do this for the state once this is completed. it's not it's not just a central Arkansas thing this is going to expand to all the counties in the state. We have you know. We work with all the counties in the state. Someone has to do something in. Senator Dismang go ahead. Thank you because when things are talking about is making sure that we've got money remaining for other shelters that may have any as we've established that to be a priority in the state or would be here today okay so the total fundraising effort that you had was for fifteen. I thank I'm looking for a board member another address for fifteen at this point we've raised. Three point two is what we have an on hand right three point two we've got four million dollars that is new money but it has to be tied to something that has to try to sell new give in which I'm assuming this this money here qualifies so then let's just say we do Ford four that's eight so that puts it eleven point two. Which were asking for an additional six million above which puts you well above your fifteen million dollar quest which part of that's going to be used for operating which I would say the only thing we we can have a discussion about the building where it is and everything else but I don't think it would be right to give you all three years advanced Hey. In every other shelter in the State struggle just to stay open without that advanced Hey and I don't I don't I mean I don't think I'm glad we're having this discussion because I don't think it would be right for us to do that with these dollars I mean. So what I would like to know it so at this point I'm looking at that you have my right eleven point two if you just with the matching and then you want an extra six three seventeen point two. ACT. we already spent some of these dollars. No if not no we have not but I don't I just well let me just say in twenty one is when all this started twenty twenty one in adults is working with us and they gave us an estimate for thirty one thousand square foot building at nine point two or nine point five okay today that's eleven point seven that's how much things have changed so it's not that. We're going to use the state money for operating we're gonna build that shelter well but you are in a way because you're you're raising above and beyond. But not if you specified for construction. But the next letting everyone else that's contributed money to your organization goes directly to. Operating expenses were worst offsetting I mean I'm not trying to that's a that's a shall move meets all the same money at this point in the same pot. But so now we're saying that it's not a ten million dollar building it's eleven point seven million dollar building. I'm trying to help actually the best way I can because I mean I think if you want to. What what you're stuck in the middle of is a lack of planning okay not not on your part you can raise money for however long you've put all these people on your board that need to be on your board or whatever. you know to be able to get to the point that you're sitting here today that's great. But elsewhere in the state there has not been this planning we haven't said notices as Sir for instance I mean I don't know if you remember what happened are kind of all the paper but no there's is all this money released we clawed it back why because unlike other states we didn't prioritize for a school district's or or even state out what we thought those dollars should be spent on we just spent. This money that we have right now we're in the process of just spending it we didn't set priorities we didn't say that but if you rank the needs of the state what you do to be at the top. It's not right for us we're just getting haphazard requests that are coming in I'd say your projects haphazard with the order in which is coming in is haphazard. And we're being asked to committee and this is the difficult position that all of us are being in in in the in the funny thing is we're all conflicted with each other because we've got projects that benefit our particular area. We're being asked to prioritize this committee because it didn't occur before now. Because at the end of the day we're going to run out of money these funds aren't going to exist. And then what did we miss out on what we not fun was the fifteen million dollar pharmacy I don't know if it's priority it is that member. And so we're just we're in a very difficult position here and we want to make sure that we're helping as many are Kansas is possible with these dollars because this is one time funds it's not coming back. And so again I I've got a look at it may not be popular some that was in Little Rock but I've got a look in the lands of what about Jacob's place. How do you gonna keep their doors open they struggle to fund raise every year. The federal funds are dwindling it's going even give more restrictive but we're going to give one institution ten million dollars and enough to operate for three years without having to fundraise. So again I apologize for that I I just feel like we're we're in a really weird position in this committee at the audience may not understand you know what we're being faced with a maybe Blake. attacking some into the indirect in a directly that's not what it is anyway we're just being asked to do some work that hasn't already been done. By creating preservation understanding of the needs in the state. Thank you get another question just to kind of change subjects a little what you're talking about everything being all inclusive within this this shelter at all I'm reading this and you've got a PS adult protective services disability services the DA health department so I they all committed staff to actually be on site at this facility twenty four seven. They have not all of them have and some have and we don't have a member memorandum of understanding it with any of them that we have some of then and some of those partner agencies on our steering committees or workgroups and making sure that they do one of two things one is is make the decision on whether or not their actual organization can put somebody there on location or how they can partner with S. in order to provide and some made to be there for the victims instead the victims have to come to them. Okay I. That's what this is. So like for instance in and Milwaukee and they had their local law enforcement it's there and and they don't want to be on site at the actual and justice center but they work in partnership with them and so if they need somebody to come and do like ad interview for forensic yeah maybe there is a break down or something you know and they need a police officer take a report they will send an officer to the family peace center to provide that and so that's kind of an example. Okay I think. I mean you know I was Senator Dismang and I love what you guys do But come into the legislature when you're asking for this amount of money and saying it will provide the following services and you don't have any of the services actually done through an email you are a contract. The at the end of the day nobody may actually do this I mean you may not have any services on sites and so. I think it's a little short sighted to come to us and say we will have these things but you have you have do not have any of the structure actually in place for those things yet so. All right represent I'm not going to recognize you. You're on it yet I know you advocated for it. You're on the board and I'm I'm not a recognized you not on the committee other any other questions right now. All right C. nine thank you. All right members I'm going to recess until we're we'll come back fifteen minutes upon the adjournment of review that starts at one thirty thank you. Afternoon I real quick if you want to take your packets with you that be great that way you can bring them back with you anything left on the table is going to be confiscated thank you.