ALC-PEER

From. The first item on the agenda is to suspend the rules so that we can hear the supplemental agenda. Got a motion and a second all those in favor I. Opposed nay moshing carries. Thank you madam chair in the first section the agenda this section be the are the various temporary appropriation increase request the first item is a letter from the secretary of state it's four million eighty three thousand an appropriation this is to contract with a vendor to produce an online searchable campaign following the reporting system in accordance with act ten twenty nine twenty twenty one it's supported by the state's interest Services Fund. Nicks items letter from north Arkansas college for three million appropriation and it's to construct the center for robotics in manufacturing innovation facility is supported by transfer from the restrictions are fun last year that was in June of twenty twenty one. Nicks items Arkansas school for the deaf this is that the Department education it's for nine hundred fifty thousand preparation and this is a spin carry for funds one special maintenance construction renovations and repairs. Next item is a letter from DHS division of aging it's for three million is being authority it's the cover operational costs of senior citizen centers the letter explains the hearts of the public health emergency is put on revenue for the centers and this is supported by restrict reserve fund transfer requests will be later in the agenda that's I'm H. for next item is from the department of public safety it's for the Division Marshall C. please it's four million fifty three thousand appropriation and this is the lead sponsor of the news for construction projects Ballinger those are all very Supreme Court Richard quest. Thank you all right you have any questions on Adam B. one. Adam beach to north Arkansas college. B. three. Page. Thank you. Thank you madam chair my question is about Department of Human Services division of aging adult and behavioral health all right let me get into the table. Yes please I could have someone from DHS please come to the table. If you will please state your names for the record and they represent a fight you're recognized ask your question you. J. hill with department of aging you don't have health services. Misi Eubanks CFO for the agency. Thank you so much I'm very much in favor of this in fact this was my proposal I just want to be sure that the triple A.'s are being used as a pass through only and that this money will be going directly to our senior centers that so desperately needed and money will not be taken out of this big ministration. Representive you're correct this will be all the funding will go directly to the to the senior center we have used a triple A. as in the past when there were special funding special funds granted to the senior centers we have those mechanisms already in place it is a much quicker process for us to be able to channel the finding out to the senior centers but the funding in its entirety will be directed to each of the state's senior centers thank you for that clarification. And I've got a question are we using the same formula that we use to distribute the funds are we doing that we will be using the federal funding formula that is currently in place distribute funding to centers okay yes ma'am thank you are there any other questions while we have them at the table. The. Hello short represent if I has one more question yes just a follow up what is the timeline on this we will begin doing that as soon as the funding is released we're we're prepared to begin distributing finding out to. Do you have any idea of exactly when I don't I can get that for you represent thank you. All right Senator Irvin you are recognized. Thank you I'd like to request that you send you know the specific amount and then to copy us in the legislature because a lot of times we hear that they do not did not receive funding or they need more fun whatever and I just wanna make sure we have clear communication between. Your department the senior centers and then I need you to copy Legislative Council on that so that there's no questions after this funding is been released we have to thank you. Thank you a seat seventy five. You're recognized. Me at representative you're recognized thank you madam chair I just wanna echo center rooms request we need to know when the funding is going to be present as represent fight asked when you know all that by Thursday so if you can have all that ready to distribute to council by Thursday that would be great thank you madam chair. Mackler fight is that the amounts to the senior center's or the timeline for release of the funding. Both. If you can give that to us Thursday so we'll have it for A. L. C. on Thursday that the great yes ma'am all right are there any other questions. All right thank you. Are there any questions on item B. five department of public safety. Okay all right. Seeing none not entertain a motion to adopt items B. one three five. Got a motion and a second any discussion all in favor aye. Opposed nay moshing carries we want to Adam C.. Thank you ma'am chair inspection CV agenda these are the cares appropriation requests there's only one item on the agenda is for Arkansas PBS this is for four hundred sixty five thousand and spinning the forty this is a complete expansion of their product has footprints reach ninety nine point five percent of the available homes. Are there any questions on item C.. All right saying none not entertain a motion to approve this item got a motion and a second any discussion. All in favor aye. Opposed nay motion carries item the. The man chairman section the these are the American rescue plan appropriation requests the first item is for Arkansas northeastern college is for a hundred nine thousand incorporation this is to distribute remaining sitting portion of emergency financial aid grants and provides technology and services H. fax systems. The next item is the two for Southeast Arkansas college three hundred seventy seven thousand and is to continue appropriation into fiscal year twenty three for technology related expenses approved in fiscal year twenty two. Next item in Southeast Arkansas colleges again C. R. this is for this is a request reallocate previously awarded appropriation this will correct a bhajan please perforation the proper line item to make computer purchases. And the four is department of commerce Arkansas Economic Development Commission it's for this is an A. R. P. steering committee award and for forty one point seven million this is continued to roll broadband program probe by providing payment of the remaining robbing grants and does that's the reimbursement process and to fund the C. T. H. contract. Those are all they appear on this all right thank you have a representative Dotson you're recognized. Thank you madam chair that and staff may be able answer this is this additional award on the broad grand grants. For a new release of funds or is this something we already approved in the past and just continuation after the fiscal year. We need to defer that to the agency to get an answer. We're just gonna go out order if I could have someone come up from department commerce. If you could please state your name for the record the representative Dotson you're recognized yes ma'am good morning jim Hudson the chief staff partner commerce per the question representative Dotson it's continuation only is not a new war it's no new money coming in these are mainly the money for projects that were approved by this body last year we had paid the money out yet so we had a school years different reauthorization do you have any idea when the the next tranche of funding is going to be released and considered for additional projects. Well we're hoping to do one more round this calendar year we'll be talking exactly subcommittee tomorrow about some proposed emergency rules that would lay out the process for that but it would be our hope to be able to come back to you A. L. C. in the November time frame with projects identified requesting appropriation at that point okay and and those would be large A. R. P. funds or would they be part of the infrastructure Do we have any idea what that's gonna look like. Yes that's the one billion dollar question it will all be are both for this year okay you know I think the the instruction money we're not gonna see that until probably Q. two of twenty twenty three and that the amount still undetermined amount of a hundred million of estimates have gone as high as a billion dollars thank you Mr thank you senator. Richard. I read. Does anyone else have any questions well we've got them at the table Senator Irvin Mr questions for them. Yes okay you're recognized yes Sir just building on what representative Johnson was talking about can you be and are these grants that were in the pipeline under those programs. So that you have for this week continuation procreation as women for projects that you approved last year twenty twenty one that are using our funds and using the program as it was designed at the point that you approve the appropriation okay so there's two different categories at that point some more actually probably all this money would be reimbursement money so the the money from November okay since the reimbursable okay that's thank you and I'd like to visit with you sometime today or tomorrow thank you happy to do I have any other questions well we've got him at the table all right thank you thank you ma'am all right are there any questions on D. one Arkansas northeastern college. Adam the to. Or out of the three. All right saying no not entertain a motion to approve items D. one three four. Got a motion and a second any discussion all in favor aye opposed nay motion carries. Item. Thank you madam chair. We're in section need this is the infrastructure investment jobs act corporation quest this is for the Division final quality weather's ation assistance program this item is re referred back to peer last month for me and see for more discussion the first page letter explaining the agency could they could move for with the notice of intent that was due on July first and then if you preparation is not granted not move for the application the next pages request for thirty two point eight million appropriation and the last four pages are more information on the weather's ation systems program and maps showing the distribution of funds. All right thank you are there any questions on item eighty one. Senator Hickey you're recognized. When you get someone from the table yes prior so. I read if you will please state your name for the record. Large mangle chief minister for energy programs at any. K. joiner senior programs manager for the Arkansas Energy Office. Mitchell Simpson director of Arkansas Energy Office Eddie any. Right to recognize Senator Hickey thank you and I'm up here maybe other questions but the one that I had to as before we discussed like the insurance that I guess not only that the what I will return the sub contractor of the contractor I think you all call in that they're that they're carrying on these things but then also as I understand it was our understanding from the last meeting that the but the one that was administering the program of those called CA cities is that right it is R. C. community action agency CAA CAA so my apology as well as the CAA's that they actually had a representative that was going out to make sure that the working been perform correctly. in the way that I see it there were actually taking on the you know. Some liability by doing that because of something's not perform correctly And then they don't catch it then at some point if if home or something to that nature I guess in bad shape which I've had some experience with this and know that that. Can happen and does happen. No where does the consumer how are how are they going to be made whole in that event so if you could to expand on the thing and tell me what type of limits on liability or that you know you all recall are requiring from both the CIA and also the contractor. Yes Sir happy to talk about that so after last discussion we went back and checked with all the community action agencies and got confirmation that both the CAAS are the providers as we call them and the contractors all carry general liability insurance those those limits are those those premiums are are those limits range from a hundred thousand to one million dollars per occurrence with the majority being half a million dollars or more. Okay so who who is verifying I mean I think we need to have a a set amount on that if it's a hundred thousand dollars per house somebody's going to have to be making sure that that. That all of those insurance is always up to date who's doing that. So our department to be a energy and environment of minors monitors that it makes certain that each of the providers and their contractors retain their required insurance levels so just like when we recently did we we call them make sure they provide their information to us and we keep those on file that information on file okay I heard you say a hundred thousand to me and does your department plan owned. Trying to develop some consistency with that. Yes Sir will will be in discussion about whether the appropriate limits are we know the one hundred thousand dollar occurrence that we heard that was from one of the participating contractors all of the providers how policies as a mention from half a million to one million per occurrence but we will work with them to make certain that the contractors have higher liability range as if you will and before we vote to pass this at least from my standpoint what water you are going to require before these funds are disbursed. I mean you're saying you're gonna work with the money to I want to know the amount sitting here to table I counted record. We're we'll be pushing all of the providers and the contractors to accrue to get about a million dollars and and liability insurance per occurrence per occurrence yes Sir all right so each each home that they're going to go into they're going to have a million dollars worth of coverage so they do. Ten ten homes or tell me that they're gonna be current they're gonna be carrying ten million dollars on those. They do twenty twenty million fifty fifty million yes Sir that's correct okay and whatever you say both of whom are you telling me that that that the CAA's going to carry are you talk about the cumulative total are each one of them's going to be going to be doing that. Each will be required to carry those goals liability Rangers okay all right so in other words there's going to be a limit of two million dollars on one home a million dollars from the contractor. And a million dollars. from the CAA. Yes. Thank you think that's gonna I'm sitting here asking for this and you know I don't know if that's cost effective or not do we ever did we check. Did we check before we've done that I mean I thought that's what we were doing well while we were. In this all the time you know we we referred this this back to this committee we referred this back to this committee and then we come in here and say about a million I mean that I don't guess I understand what we did during off time to just sit and wait to get back here no Sir the only reason I said about a million it was because we have one provider that has a half a million dollars per occurrence all of our other providers have one million per occurrence we have two contractors that participate in a program that have about a hundred thousand dollars of occurrence the rest have a million so we just have about two to three entities that we have to work with in order to raise our policy limits but okay a majority of the participants in the program are already operating out of one million dollars per occurrence okay and you're not in so you're not going to disburse funds until until those limits are in place is that correct that is correct Sir thank you Sir Sir. Senator Rapert you're recognized. Thank you I'm just trying to go through the information you provided here M. when I totaled up what you listed on these pages it comes to a little over two million dollars. So can you explain where the other thirty million dollars will go. The particular reporter you have before you senator areas in relation to our annual weatherization program so this is the program operates every single year as I understand it when we when we were first before you the request was information on how the current program operates so that's what you have before your and on average annually we receive about two to two and a half million dollars for our annual weatherization program. Okay this is thirty two million eight hundred ninety five thousand nine hundred ninety eight dollars in the infrastructure investment and jobs act funds allocated for the expansion of the Arkansas weather is ation assistance program. And so I'm going off this front letters where it talks about this is not on this is new. This is new money from my understanding it is oh sorry I misunderstood what you were referring to yeah I'm referring to this okay so here we have thirty two million yes ma'am and then here we have this she yes ma'am and then when I look at the further explanation as it's broken down by an announcmenet. With the different community acts of C. A. A.'s yes ma'am and I'm I total these amounts that only comes to two million one hundred twenty one thousand five hundred three dollars. So. I mean I'm happy for any of you to answer the question and I think Senator Senator Irvin I think the what you're looking at right there is what they already spent in funds that they normally get and you guys correct me if I'm wrong if you look at the very back page there's a map on there that shows I believe that's the funds that were looking at this five year money of how they will actually distributed our council in the future. Is that right so this very first sheet that shows the breakdown that you were initially referring to about annual that's referencing our annual weatherization allocation which is roughly two to two and a half million per year and so this was provided as an illustration of how the program normally operates okay distributed and then you'll have a thing in your packet will have this this map that shows the thirty two million and I'd J. funds and how we anticipate those dollars will be allocated to the territories and accountants. Okay so we have with the I. A. J. Singh J. funds you can think of it as a plus off if you will to the regular weatherization program it will operate essentially aside from some of the changes that we've discussed here today it'll operate just like the weather is ation program has been operating in Arkansas since the late seventies and so we'll continue to provide the same services we just have. Ten ten or twelve times more funds to do weatherization whether Ross more homes okay so this is going to be taking place in twenty twenty one and twenty twenty two this will began this fall should we receive funds says twenty twenty one twenty fourteen so I'm. Why would that be twenty twenty one is that there's one government current program. Okay. So it should read weatherization assistance program twenty twenty two to twenty twenty seven. Okay. That's. Could give us a little more explanation thank you. All right I'm gonna follow up on Senator eleven question there because I was. Just totaling everything up and it looks like when I look at that last minute for the twenty two to twenty seven years and the totals like twenty four million but the appropriation I've got here is the grants in aid is like thirty one million. Can't find a discrepancy there yes ma'am the remaining fifteen percent of those funds go to administrative cost and training and technical assistance okay what you see on the map refers strictly to benefits that actually go out into Arkansas communities what's not illustrative there on that map is the fifteen percent for administrative and training and technical assistance okay but how much of that do we actually keep for administrative costs you know so there there's a fifteen percent of the fund is for administrative we the Department shares that administrative costs with the community action agencies so the Department retains two to three percent of that fifteen percent the remaining twelve to thirteen percent goes out to the community action agencies for their operations okay thank you bye boards lighten up now. Hold on a Senator come right back to you I've got seat ninety two. Share all right you're recognized senator Hammer thank you could you over here too far left over here. Morning could you tell me how may contractors you have that are approved to do the work. We have each of the six Weather is Asian providers have at least one contractor one general contractor and then they all have specialty contractors when needed such as H. FAQ electrical and plumbing. Okay that's the current program and reading over the notes as far as the selection of contractors so the selection contractors is just one who subs out to everyone underneath them or those contractors. Consider also as part of the the subs are considered as part of the total contractors you have. Well they. Different providers have procured in different ways and so sometimes thank you have a general contractor that subs out all the specialties sometimes like procure their own specialty contractors. As I mentioned electrical plumbing and heating air. I services it depends on how they procure or you know they have to do it in an open and competitive way was sealed bids okay thank you. Representative Dotson you're recognized thank you madam chair over to your right so. Last month this was a matter of great urgency to get done before the end of the fiscal year June thirtieth or before July one and Enter your your information here you just need to have a notice of intent by July one which I'm assuming you put in and did when is this actually due to when when did when do we have to have the approval for this in order to qualify for the funds and once we get that approval does this qualifies for the entire what is it for five years of the program. Yes it will qualifies for the entire. Five years through twenty twenty seven the. Complete application is due to the Department US department of energy by October first. We did submit our intent July first which when approved would allow us to draw down fifteen percent of the thirty two million. And that would be for planning purposes and to begin to ramp up with our staff and contractors to get ready for the. Very much increased production of whether US homes so how is that. Few months difference missed an application or the the testimony before this committee and the the full body that we went back and forth for quite a while last month on what why did we not know that the application was actually due until October at that time. I think we just didn't get to honestly that point of the discussion of at the conclusion of the last meeting the question was asked if there were any repercussions if we didn't of the body had not approved our request at that time what could happen and I think at the time we mention that the pre application was due July one and we would just have to determine whether or not with the outcome of that would be and honestly servicing conversation just didn't progress to be actual discussion of the deadline of the application the full application. Thank you. Senator Irvin you're recognized thank you and I just want to say thank you to the three of you for being here I would just make a suggestion. When especially in autumn like this is held you know and it's coming back to us for further discussion I think it would have been super helpful for you all to come in and said let me go through this with you and explain what you have in front of you let me explain the program let me explain and answer the questions from last month's enquiries that's what we're here for we're here for deliberation we're here for thoughtful dialogue and for discussion and so you know it would be nice to hear from all of you coming to the table to provide us with the information that we've asked for in a thoughtful deliberative way that makes sense because there's lots of information here that's missing in my opinion like the fifteen percent administration how that's broken down we're thank you for providing the background in the funding for how you've allocated these funds in the past however we're looking at thirty two million dollars coming into this state and we're concerned at the way that's going to be an allocated and managed and then held accountable on the backends does not make sense that's what we're here to try to do so just just as a you know tip perhaps that's what we're here to engage in you know we're we appreciate I appreciate the maps appreciate all that we're just really concerned about the accountability portion of this because of the huge amount of money and we don't want to see it wasted we don't want to see if misused we don't want to see you know text boxes not checked and things not marked off so come to us prepared to be able to go through everything and show us in detail so that we're not having to hunt and Peck and fines because then we're sitting here going and your term. The hot something and I know that you're not I mean I've talked to Shane about this and Lincoln I understand but we have to have these kinds of conversations and concerns and bring them to light would be super helpful of this was a two way street here does that make sense thank you. All right looks like representative Cavenaugh you're recognized thank you madam chair I'm over here to Act so here my question is just. For clarification there's fifteen percent goes to ministration V. which is approximately a billion a year you keep five hundred and then the other part goes to the actual community development centers that are actually taking care councils and stuff they're taking care of the implementation of the program thank record. Eat me yes ma'am okay and then on the your approximation of the funds are going to get of this thirty million approximately dollars how did you have a how much was going to go to each one of the districts was that based on prior utilization of the program population and what was it based on. Yes we have a allocation formula that we use every year with the weather is ation funds and it's set up to Include three variables want the primary one is the low income population in each county then we also have a small portion that considers the number of homes that were built prior to nineteen ninety and the third variable that is a small amount is Hi Donna blank Sorry. I'm I'm drawing a blank on the third variable I'm sorry I can I can certainly provide okay at a later time follow and share if you're recognized so if. Like in my area Brad were part of my area presidency already say they do they do the program M. Bradley had two point three million allocated of this money's going to go to this. That's a very HIGHPOVERTY. District bury have already. But it's not getting it's getting the least amount. And I just happen to know how much about poverty district that is really doing so I guess that's my concern is if a district which is extremely high poverty needs more money for this but then you've got seven point two million which is down in the southern part which is very HIGHPOVERTY also but then you've got six point two and Sebastian Crawford in that area which is a little higher income if they don't use all their money in one district I guess is it able to go to another one that has a need. Yes we do reallocate funds that are not used in one area and provide them to another to another area in fact we're doing that right now with CRTC that needed A relatively small amount of money to finish out the current year okay so it it just sit there not utilized as my concern okay thank you. All right Senator Hickey you're recognized just just one more thing back back to the insurance if if you don't mind you know based on what you said it sounds like to me that that you're trying to say there's gonna be like two million per house no matter what. I wanna make sure that's realistic I want there to be sufficient in insurance but if you don't mind I would appreciate if you all go back and study that and make sure that that's going to be right before the Friday meeting because I don't what I don't want to happen is for you to set out or and said what you said. And in some way say well there's limits or there's caps on it or things of that nature so I think and I assume that's what we're going to be doing between now and this meeting. But if you don't mind I'd like to know exactly what the specifics are with that insurance whenever you come back Friday because I don't want us to passes out and then you know if you all get to look at and say that's different than what we said in here if you don't mind. He understood Mr clarify we is that by Thursday not Friday this week thank you it is Thursday isn't it sorry thank you. Thank you S. senator Hammer you're recognized for a question thank you to you for left I want to check on what Senator Hickey is talking about and just clarifies some based on the answer you gave me awhile ago the liability insurance is that going to be for that one primary contractor or is that going to be required of each one of the subs that's doing the work under the primary contractor can understood your ride will go you said you had like one and then you got to multiple underneath the HVAC plumbing and everything could you clarify what that will include. Or who that will be applied to. What we do require that every contractor that steps onto a house that's being whether ice has liability insurance I can't speak to the liability limits to of all the subs at the current time but we can certainly. Get that information okay so if a a contractor has multiple things going on with the House maybe put windows in the putting plumbing HVAC each one of those subs is going to be required to have that liability insurance. And and I mean that could spread out over multiple houses or have you done any in your in the information and bring back I'd be curious to know what the financial hit is going to be and how that would affect how much work could be done to a house not that I disagree that they out of coverage but I wonder if you've run the estimated cost or if you could just see is that going to change your administration costs is that going to change the training calls because that money's gonna have to come from somewhere so could you could chase that down in your you know your research to place yes Sir we can do that thank you ma'am thank you. All right are there any other questions what we have them at the table. All right seeing none I will entertain a motion to approve item E. one. Do I have a motion. I have a motion and a second three discussion on the item. All in favor of discussion representative Vaught you're recognized I mean I make that motion and with them bringing that information to us on Thursday okay thank you for the clarity. All right all in favor aye. All opposed nay. Motion carries thank you. Thank you madam chair in section F. L.. Section if it is the art of corporation quest for infrastructure investment jobs act funding a majority of the department's federal funding comes from the infrastructure act the request on today's units for two hundred fifteen million and this is appropriations in the federal funds for the next quarter that would be for October through December. All right thank you are there any questions on item F.. All right no questions I've got a motion to approve and a second any discussion on the motion all in favor aye. Opposed nay moshing carries. Thank you madam chair in section G. these of the rainy day fund transfer requests the first item G. one is for Arkansas rehabilitation services as I understand the direction for that year as is items going to be held. Will move on to the next item this is G. two letter from the governor for the for two hundred thousand a transfer to the state drug crime enforcement prosecution grant from this is that the if in a and this is to support the drug task force operations manager those are all the rainy day fund transfer requests legion. All right thank you are there any questions on item G. two forty eight and a. All right seeing none I will entertain a motion to approve item G. to only. Gov got a motion and a second any discussion all in favor aye. Nay the bass have a motion Is approved. Thank you madam chair were in the next section subsection H. this is for the restrict reserve fund transfers the first two or from the majority vote very soon prevention projects set aside this is a set aside it was established after the last twenty two fiscal session it has an original balance of a hundred fifty million the first items for the Veterans Affairs it's a fifteen million dollar transfer this is replaced the fateful veterans home with new construction of property and been County that was doing it to the state the fifty million will be matched by the US department enters affairs at sixty five percent of the almost three million and this for a total project cost of forty two point nine million. The next item is from the Department public safety this is again from a majority vote various improvements and projects set aside it's a ten million dollar transferring is to make grants to law enforcement through the public safety equipment grant program. The next items of the next four items are from the majority vote set aside account this is a set aside those established under twenty one regular session and has a current balance of seventeen twenty million out of the original thirty three point three million allocation of the first item is for the finance person officer to million dollar transfer is to establish an endowment with hope cancer resource center in north Arkansas cancer support services the preparation for this transfer will be request later in the agenda yes I want to cash fund increase request next item H. four is DHS division agent or behavior hell is for three million dollars it's to cover operational costs of senior citizen centers in the preparation for this was requested early in the afternoon very simply appropriation request. Next item is H. five this is the economic development mission it's the one million dollar transfer is to make a granted Arkansas alliance for boys and girls clubs for organizational projects. the next item age six is Economic Development Commission this is a one point five million dollar transfer is to make it grants the museum of discovery for renovations after the twenty twenty one flooding the next item is for the national guards on the supplemental agenda but we have direction from the chair and that this item will be held. All right thank you representative Dotson you're recognized thank you madam chair I've got a couple questions but first one probably for staff just. Do we know where we're at with restricted reserve funds as far as total balance and where this takes us down to I'm assuming all these come out of this current fiscal year. Yes Sir would you have reported the end of the in the report section for researchers are fun but I wouldn't tell you that so we have those different set aside within restrictions are from the council of the eighty set aside you'll see that report that's a majority vote set aside that we've been pulling money from over the last year it'll be down to Levin point three million that's after six and a half million transfers from today's gentle except for the one that was held and then in set aside G. that's a majority a majority vote base improvement set aside that was just established that will be down two hundred twenty million after thirty minutes transfers on today's agenda so the overall bouncer District reserve fund would be a hundred and eighty one point three million. And you just said six and a half million does that include the what is the five million from the National Guard that was held. Then I believe comes out of the various improvements set aside so at the back that **** the twenty five million so the set aside for the various improvements as a part of various improvements set aside would be a hundred twenty five on the bounce that B. G. okay twenty five now okay and then I also had a question for. Not sure what the number is here but the economic development commission the new museum of discovery. All right we can go ahead and intake number six if I can get someone to come to the table. You were already waiting. You will just introduce yourself for the record again and representative Dotson you're recognized ask questions. Thank you madam chair Jim Dotson chief staff Parma commerce all right so. I understand this is a. It is an asset that benefits everybody in the state but primarily it's for folks that live in central Arkansas and so I'm just curious what what is the I have before we go after state funds for this has the museum to the discovery looked at local resources the city the county the counties that surround Little Rock area here yes Sir I do believe you're doing a capital raise but let me hand have Mister bass come a table from museums cover that's okay he can break the Committee on what their plans are for that absolutely. If you could please state your name for the record. I'm Kelly bass on the CEO of the museum discovery yes we have had conversations with mayor Scott we've had a conversation with two of the city or actors and we're hopeful for funding from the city mmhm in one of the charges money that they're gonna have available to them because revenue replacement is a is a legitimate use of federal COVID funds and we lost nine hundred thousand dollars in revenue in the twenty seven weeks or close first let's last year also had conversations with Pulaski County judge Barry Hyde he is so. Seems optimistic there will be some money from the county to help us and then we're also embarking on on private fundraising as well have you had any discussions with some of the surrounding counties that have the are your biggest utilization like Faulkner Salim you know what we have not yet we certainly will we have a great relationship are our largest attendance beyond Pulaski county's Faulkner we've done a lot of work that's been supported by the Conway chamber of commerce including being active with their told Sunday's events and of putting our some of our exhibits on display and store fronts along the streets there so we will be having those conversations and just on in two thousand eighteen and nineteen which other than this year or going to be the last to normal years we had attendance from all seventy five counties in Arkansas we also had school field trip groups from sixty of the seventy five counties in Arkansas not to mention with our location at the corner by thirty to forty we had visitors from twenty which school field trip from nine other states and as of April thirtieth this year we had already had public visitation from all fifty states so. You know we're certainly located in Little Rock Arkansas but our impact is much greater than ten central Arkansas thank you. Thank you senator urban. I had right here I was just curious if you all ever teamed up with PBS we have quite a bit they in fact we had in there is a museum pre flood that was featured a lot of PPS Items in and decorum and then we've we've teamed up in spring breaks with PBS in years past to have Popular PBS characters I mean I can't tell you the number of people who showed up for curious George and the man in the yellow hat so um yeah we have and and Courtney pleasure someone that we know quite well I was just curious if they hadn't done any type of and. Ongoing series that highlights that lead museum of discovery for y'all to provide content for you know like a. Monthly or weekly. Thank at. In education right I just think it would be nice connecting that and your providing the content for that or you know because you have a lot to offer so I might be an opportunity yeah that is and they certainly have the distribution network particular out there over the year going to be covered basically the whole state plus all their online resource that's a great idea I think I would develop some content for a a periodic since Periodic series with the museum of discovery with PBS so that we can get you more connected to the rest of state thank you that's a great suggestion. All right I have a question to either you're asking for that's the of your words one point five but I'm was going to go out on a limb and say that's not going to cover the cost of the entire project we what's the expected to cost of the project will it it we're we're going to have launched and we're in the quiet phase of a larger campaign that would cover the the redoing of two galleries that were not damaged by the flood the cost to do to read to the two galleries that were damaged by the flood is four point six million dollars we have three and a half an insurance the costs have gone up these activities were ten year old exhibits that were destroyed and then again we lost nine fifteen revenue so the one point five would get us we're about to two million to the to the pad on those two galleries alone but then we're we have other projects the when the museum was renovated in two thousand eleven thanks to a large grant for the calendar real foundation it only re did three of the five galleries and so two of them have never been up to the level of of did the three were until two flooded so um we're on overall at ten and a half million dollar capital campaign but the actual park for the flood is really going to be about two million to get us back where we were in this one and a half would would would go a long way toward that okay thank you are there any other questions for them what got them at the table. All right thank you thank you committee. All right do you have any questions on H. one Department of Veterans Affairs. item age to. Adam H. three. Item H. four. For item page five with the boys and girls clubs. All right say no more questions I'd entertain a motion to approve items H. one three six. Got a motion and a second dream discussion all in favor aye opposed nay moshing carries. Thank you madam chair in section I this is the these are the cast appropriation please request the first item is from the if made his first officer it's a million dollars in church and preparation this is the disbursed funds from their difference up reserve funds transferred to hope cancer resources. I two is Department personagens wars on this is the Old State House Museum it's a hundred one thousand five hundred appropriation in this is to pay for events exhibits and educational programming that were previously paid out of an on appropriate cash. I three is part partition towards on the the tourism division it's for eleven thousand five hundred and appropriation of this is to shift any authority from a resale line item two minutes operations the appropriations dollars needed resale due to a closure of the towards divisions retail gift shop next item is on the supplemental agenda this is a for the full ten museum and I have direct from this year it is item will be held. All right thank you do I have any questions on item hi everyone. Items hi to. Or item I three. All right seeing none those items I one thirty three are marked as refuge. Thank you ma'am chevron the miscellaneous federal grant request this is section J. of the agenda. The first four items are for the department of commerce insurance department and the total for the first four is four hundred fifty seven thousand all for grants or for providing assistance to those eligible for low income subsidy programs in they are a hundred percent federally funded so if you move to number five. Number five is requests from DHS division of aging it's four eighty two thousand a preparation and to establish one position this is for the this is prevent you once said and reduce the progression of substance abuse through the partnership for success program it's a hundred percent federally funded. Next item number six is Department persecution tourism Arkansas arts council it's four seventy eight thousand preparation and this is a fine arts and education residency programs in schools and local arts organizations is also interested fairly funded. Thank you senator rice you're recognized I have a question on number six napa could get someone to the table from department of parks heritage and tourism. Right if you will state your name for the record and then incident arises recognized asks questions. I am sentido let the CFO the Department of Parks here to centers of. I'm Leslie that's going to the legislative affairs for the department. Thank you for being here today I'm right here in front of you of. This is only seventy thousand dollar contract with virgin it talks about the. Residency program for school local arts organizations in school after school summer programs in curriculum development you give us a short. The what in entails and and it may take you a little bit more out of. I know there's maybe a limited amount of state money that goes into the arts council but I believe I heard a figure with federal grants would circle around five million last year surprise you. We did not receive we don't receive that much you know that okay I didn't know if you were familiar with the with with kind of what our budget was no Sir okay if you were. Taking a small. Amount of money here in developing curriculum out of it I just wonder if you from here you're. With what kind of curriculum is being used and I don't have the information about the curriculum but the request for here is not the entire amount of the grant this request the seventy eight thousand dollars it's just so that we can shift some appropriation that we had allocated to the you may know to put it to the grants that the entire grants program uses about our entire grant program is about a million more I have to get it thank. Seventy eight thousand is not the entire ground for understand that but it made me an annual out of state or federal corporation. How much state money last year when. I don't have an exact amount I rather just get that in give it to you okay of let me go a little bit more and and ask you do you have any input when you're when you're granting money into saying that it is utilized efficiently and fairly a bit favoring of certain minorities are. is there some type of criteria that you use their. I'll let Page across the address that he is the director of the arts council. Morning Patrick. Good morning senator up we give these grants to organizations local arts organizations of sometimes schools and what they do is they develop curriculum usually around a a visiting artist and of more likely than not there a. They're focused on one of things like arts integration with the science a lot of spam of steam the ideas and of so that's you know usually it's a short term thing and programs like if you're a stuttering studying science and you know like the development of the steam engine and they will bring in artists two does programs around that kind of a that kind of thing you know the history of the steam engine. Okay. Anymore the committee's time only I would like to visit with you offline and get a little more information yes Sir thank you for being here today thank you senator. Thank you representative Cavenaugh is this are you on the same topic. Okay. All right do I have any other questions for them while they're at the table. All right thank you very much. All right representative Cavenaugh you want to would you like to get someone from department commerce to the table yes madam chair. If I could have someone from the department of commerce to the table. He's coming back in. All right I have you all state your names for the records one more time and then you're recognized representative Cavenaugh. Jim Dotson chief of staff proper commerce merry Davis CFO for the insurance department. Lisa Carter insurance department subdivision thank you madam chair. My question is on all of these I think it's one through four and then there's there's about four hundred fifty thousand is that actually going to benefits to individuals or is it just to cover administration costs. M. S. to cover administrative costs in the contracts with their different providers so the triple a and then the other ones and then them if the priority three is for outreach and education purposes. Okay so we're not actually getting any benefits to any other individuals with this money we're just paying administration cost yes that's correct. And we have an already paid these administration costs they're getting more above what we've already paid them to do the job they're already supposed to be doing most of it contracts and they do work every month and then they submit the invoices to us and we pay them as they provide the services. Yes we did. Yeah allocate enough for those I mean are they doing more work than what they originally. Had intended to do no of these ones are actually continuations that were submitted to budget and may for our A. O. P. but they were in this getting submitted so these are just to get them back. Towards our appropriation now we just missed the month of July I guess they just missed turning him in these are continuation grants of their ongoing contract we've had them for a couple years now okay thank you. You have any other questions for department commerce while they're at the table. All right thank you very much. Are there any other questions on items J. one three six. All right seeing none those items will be marked as reviewed. We want to the reports. The manager the first report is section K. this is the the Emergency axe report L. C. provided emerges review in June two The if need to make budget adjustments that will become apparent when closing the books on the end of the fiscal year on page three or the PAYPLAN appropriation transfers there eleven agencies received a hundred fifty four thousand a preparation. And on the next page is a five hundred dollar cash appropriation increase for the board hearing instrument dispensers at the Department hell to pay for unemployment compensation expense that was not traditionally part of their budget. I rather any questions on any of these. All right scene and we'll move on to the next item the command chair section a section L. is the universe Arkansas medical sciences in staff and report ACT one eighty one nineteen preview EMS national Cancer Institute designation trust fund to pursue national designation for the Winthrop Rockefeller Cancer Institute act also requires immediate reporting the fun Page five shows the trust fund balance. Page five beginning balance for the reporting period that was December first of thirty seven point nine million. if you look at special revenue tax cigarette paper taxes brought in eight hundred eighty two thousand this is that uh table the bottom of the page the first table and if you look at the bottom table for expenses we had eight million expenses for the period plus another million that was for that occurred November but had not been report aces as of yet and I believe empyrean May thirty first twenty nine million dollar balance. Thank you are there any questions on item L.. Sing number we want to automate them. Thank you ma'am chair section M. are the month reports the first one's a surplus income and distribution report and this shows the sources of unobligated funds and then the distributions for the rainy day restrict reserve and long term reserve funds as of the end of June the rainy day fund shows ten point two million distributions in the balance of six point three million there should reserve fund shows a hundred fifty three million eight distributions and overall balance of two hundred seventeen point eight million of the total cash offer reserve fund balances one point two billion. The next item is into the budget stabilization trust fund report and it shows the cash alone throughout the fiscal year as of the end of June there are twelve million and housing loans in a cash balance of the hundred and one hundred eighty five million. in three is a tobacco settlement report and this gives a summary of income fund balances investments actual payments to the state and on the second page all expenses by fiscal year. M. four as a seasonal services from report and it shows the fund balance and disbursements as well as expenditures of each agency supported by the phone. And in five C. American rescue plan report the first three pages of the report show request a request or approved by the A. R. P. steering committee that the state has discretion in awarding. On the fourth page begins attachment a in this report of a a RP funds are sent directly to the state agencies from the various federal federal entities on the ninety page begins attachment B. that's report of A. R. P. funds were sent directly to institutions of higher education and per members request the last seven pages are in the low from the secretary of education of the US department of education one strategy is to spend the American rescue plan funds. All right thank you go ahead going to go ahead recognize Senator Dismang. Thank you how membership members I think it was the last time that we met we approved at half a billion dollar procreation for I think it was at the second round or third round of that's your son second second round of ESR funds that during that a presentation kind of briefly stated that it could be used for bonuses I can remember the exact wording used by staff that could be used bonuses we ask for clarification on what that meant since we're in the middle of talking about teacher bonuses kind of had some communication later were allowed to say that I felt like from that conversation that maybe that wasn't something that could be done that we would not be able to utilize those funds for bonuses or retention since then I did a little bit of research with some constituents actually back home and came across this memo guidance dated December sixteenth twenty twenty one in regards to how the federal government the DOE would like these as for funds to be utilized they specifically state in the very beginning of this letter that it should be used for retention recruitment and bonuses for teachers or staff and mental health for staff and so I just wanted to make sure there was not any confusion because in talking to some of my admin folks back home and school districts they were led to believe or felt as though that it could only be used for capital type projects when in fact DO E. said first and foremost it should be used retention recruitment and bonuses I want to make sure that you have that memo available I think it's important to note and one thing just a question I don't know if we have anyone here left we did approve that half a billion dollar procreation last month I'm just curious about how much we received in total Esther funds and how much of those funds remaining around spent this time. So I don't know if we have anybody here for maybe the Department finance or Department occasion that can answer that question. He. Sixty I know you're outside when we were kind of going through this but it kinda you know we've had some discussion about if these as for funds to be utilized for bonuses retention recruitment and that some prior conversations both in this committee and then outside this committee with little bit uncertainty at that point on what they could be utilized for think this memo states it fairly clearly my question would be yet how much has the state received in total as for funds at this point how much is remaining in and in others website I try to look at it to understand and I cannot figure out how much any district to spent on bonuses retention or recruitment at this point yet you have any of that information secretary. Greg's looking up on the dashboard total amount that we received thank you John and Kate apartment education of the total amount that we received as a state I think it's in the neighborhood of one point two billion one point two billion the total that was yeah there were three there was asked for the from the first round investor to an A. R. P. S. or and all those three are. In this category that that you're talking about we have had districts that have used these funds for additional pay due to extradite is for covid they've used them as recruitment retention bonuses they use them as It's sentence for. Tax nations for instance and it we have and I'm aware that other states through the Department encourage districts to usurp retention recruitment programs in their stated we do that through your department. Yes we have and we've actually reviewed plans that districts have sent to us the total for all three was one point seven billion one point seven billion dollars how much is the annual G. argued or a a contribution to the education line item right now to have to look that back up but. I wish that total. For tomorrow from two to two so almost equal to what we spent on a annual basis basis for education we received an extra money from the federal government yes okay thank you for that and so again in so then you'll have some materials and that sort of thing that you utilize promote and make sure that they are utilizing this for retention and for recruitment we we are. That is according to the Senate well it's been very clear from US part of education the states cannot tell them how to use it the districts have a lot of flexibility we have encouraged them to use it this this body allowed once we found out that districts could use extra funds to replace lost revenue. This body did not move forward with increasing the amount of money for declining enrollment for example because the number of districts lost a moment during covid and they were able to use S. the funds to prop up their their normal budgets but there's also the. The situation where these funds were distributed under the title one formula. In which means there are number of districts that did not receive a proportional share as some other fellow districts because of their title in a numbers Elkins for example is a good example of that of a smaller district that did not have a hi number talk title win in the distribution so they didn't get a lot of it so it really is the payment district by district and and how they do it in as far as total bonuses that men paid out to date in a minute we're able to look that up by school district and I couldn't find a specific line item we what we under yeah well it's it's probably not under us that specific on the dashboard because we grouped the expenditures on the dashboard that's what we look like to me it's kind of hard money but we can pull that out to to get specific because it depends on the code their budget codes that they used but we can get that and as far as the the mint has any of has there been any draw a look it looks like we are we still have roughly five hundred and sixty five million so little over half a billion dollars remaining available how much do we feel like that is all available at this time and then what are we doing to pollution make sure that the school districts are aware because I'll tell you some of them that I've talked to didn't know that they were able to utilize these funds retention recruitment bonuses well if if they did not because they have a mental because we've been telling well I mean I would say though even in our own discussions there was some lack of clarity here or knowing whether or not that that would be accepted or acceptable thing to do so my recollection those conversations is that to the that these plans have to be tied somewhat to code if you just can't go out and and grant of bonuses there has to be a plan I mean this letter describes hope but we don't have exactly the situation we're facing the state of our. Arkansas yeah there's another T. in every sense does it describe what's happening in the State of Arkansas so I think we would fully be able to utilize these for retention recruitment bonuses you know per the guidance from the L. E.. I don't know are you question there's no argument on that and the other component though is that's not the only thing that they were allowed to use funds for. Yeah part of the confusion Senator was at the outset DO we was not very clear on it and uh will especially when it came to using funds for capital type expenditures so sure we had a lot of. In a lot of confusion from that but in addition to that memo from secretary called Cardona from December sixteenth we've also made sure that to there's a queue in a the department education and put out the covers. That particular issue along with all the other issues of how those funds could be spent and we have been in communication with districts when the jealousy that Q. nine well it wasn't us it was the US department of education we provided links ongoing as soon as we get something from from from DC we have been putting it out on as your website so districts would have access to it and been updating superintendents on that as we go thank you yes. Senator Hickey you're recognized yes I have a question Senator Dismang you mentioned based on that information I know you've been working hard to some of the other members have on this would now be the appropriate time to ask to expunge the vote but which that five hundred million passed on the answer or should I wait and do that for thirsty because. Well I'm asking. If this is appropriate time because it is the appropriate time to come to the subcommittee I would like to make that motion now all right give us just a minute to fish this out. It has to be done in full council is what I'm told. Thank you okay. Thank you all right seat number ninety two I think that. Okay hold on you state senator Hammer you to stay live for me just a second representative Wardlaw what chair number you. All right you're recognized madam chair I understand that motion would have to be made in full council because did not come with some sort of recommendation from this committee to council in the report so that it can be adopted on Thursday. I don't see why we couldn't do that all right Senator Hickey if you Page button again. I will and I think you all heard what I'd to said what I wish to do is the and it based on what the representative Wardlaw said that this committee actually within the report requested full council adopt of this motion but the motion is to expunge the vote by which the half of the five hundred million dollar appropriation for this funds was passed. K.. And I believe that was that last month. May need to put a put a date on it. Thank you. Thank you to everyone it wasn't last one. Okay all right I've got a motion on the table to expunge the vote by which the five hundred twenty million dollar request passed do that got it I've got a second on the motion is there any discussion on this motion. You have to raise your hand because my boards lit up and I'm not sure who's what all right no discussion on the motion all in favor say aye. Any opposed nay. The I. seven The motion carries will include that with the report. All right thank you senator Hammer you're recognized thank you measure my questions to US secretary to you over here. When you when you referenced a while ago that you communicated what you feel is effectively to the districts about their ability to use S. refund for that was that just referring them to a link or were there other specific communications that went out to the district. We have had it's it's a member number of different communications we we've had assume sessions was superintendents with federal programs coordinators finance folks I mean there there been a number of opportunities to that we've used to get district's information that they need regarding how they can use our reserve funds and how soon did that begin after the December sixteenth twenty first date when that memo came out. I don't it's been ongoing since the passage of of the first answer funds like I could give you a date when the city K. issue was addressed you think you could produce or somebody in your Agency could produce a single document that would show. When you first communicated to the districts that they knew they could use that money for the recruitment bonuses whatever term you want to use could you get something that would show the first time that you notified the school district please. Yes we will pull something together our thank you Sir thank you. All right thank you got seat number sixty six. Thank you secretary key so. Following up on Senator Dismang says line of questioning or is there a breakdown department have a breakdown of how many districts have utilized S. R. funds for teacher retention bonuses versus how many have not utilized some for that purpose. We can pull that together that would be the information we go in and pull by their expenditure codes okay yeah I think that information would be very helpful as we continue this conversation and I I'd like to see the that break down. in terms of. Not just how many districts have used it but in terms of the overall funds do you have an an estimate of what percentage of the funds have been used for compensation versus for other purposes. Only percentage that we know for sure is that districts have set aside twenty percent of their funds for recovering lost learning so the time that was spent either closed or out due to the various covid quarantines that sort of thing so that's the only percentage we know that was requirement we could look to see what the percentage is for those expenditures something that that would be information that we can get once we pull all the expenditure codes okay and to follow up on The Senator hammers line of questioning it. If these funds are available for retention bonuses but it sounds like you you are going to provide a list of communications that have been sent to the district's notifying them of this. Well I'm not sure I think Senator Hammer talked about the first communication but we have four there will be a list of communication it probably happened before December twenty one I would say because we were we were in the middle of the school year at that point and they were districts that already had plans submitted where they were using Esther funds for. Bonuses or extra duty pay or those types of things that's been going on for some time so we we will do our best to pull together what what we have that shows when we've had meetings zoom meetings reports a conferences in those types of things yeah it seems like you know there's been a lot of mention in media stories highlighting the issue of teacher compensation and teacher pay I don't remember seeing any mention of these. Funds and any of that coverage it seems like the department would want to make that widely known to everyone to school districts and to the general public that that's a a potential use of those funds You mentioned that the funds would have to have a COVID impact to be used for that purpose and would you agree that COVID is certainly had an impact on teacher retention. Absolutely so it's if if districts wanted to use the funds for this purpose. Surely the department would work with districts to craft their request in a way that made sure to address that COVID requirement stipulation right and we have been doing that yes okay all right that's good all good information thank you thank you. All right seat number thirty four I believe is representative Beatty. Yes thank you madam chair I just want to follow up on what senator Hammer and representative for a brought forward and be specific with what I ask for instead of just the first instance. I want all correspondence and communications to school district where you were you've communicated that these S. R. funds were available for races. So take a little time to go back if it's a lot of conversations get that material and I'd like to see that Thursday also was we had planned for to to raise it raises how did that. How did that develop and was the is the did you make the governor aware of this memo that the ESR funds that that the sport body had approved were available for teacher raises and retention and recruitment. So your first question make sure I understand you're talking about raises I mean. There. The issue of raises when you're talking about a school district they would not have increased their base pay based on this this is something they would have done for extra duty pay for bonuses retention bonuses and that sort of thing so if make sure that's the information you're asking for okay as far as the for the governor you know when the governor asked me if there's something we can do for teacher salaries we looked at which was his per question governor's office he asked to put together a plan we looked at what other states were doing we looked at surrounding states because he asks if Klay one of the surrounding states look like a we we learn that minis of our surrounding states had just recently approved the increases to their base pay and could put together a plan submitted to governor of the governor has been and his staff of been kept apprised all along through answer through COVID of the ESR funds and what they could be used for and so I. You don't specifically about this letter from secretary Cardona I don't know that that came into play at all. Follow up quick follow up you're recognized. Again I want to be clear on the request for information. Specifically what I'm looking for is any written correspondence on your letter head speaking about Esther funds to the school districts and what they could be utilized for not forwarding an email from the federal government or put it on a web page a written correspondence and communication I think that's important we'll look at that I mean I I can say there's probably not something that that. Is on my letterhead that looks similar to this letter that you have because that's not how we were communicating with the districts there were so many issues dealing with code as you can imagine we had a website established in that was uh there were which there's a page for information Page for district information of a schedule of. The meetings conference calls that sort of thing you will get all that together for you good thank you yes look forward to. Senator Rapert you're recognized thank you just in addition to the schools I have given out these bonuses that was a local choice is that what you're reiterating I just wanna make sure clear this was a decision made by the school districts themselves that right yes so with that local decision that's made by the school district from their school boards on whether they gave teachers bonuses for retention or recruitment or what have you I'd also like the list of the local decisions that were made with those S. R. funds and what they chose to use that money for that they've already spent if it was not for bonuses I'd like to know exactly what it was her school district so that we can send that information out to the teachers that they can go to their local school districts with that information and questions why they chose to use as your moneys for this first as bonuses for them thank you for. And I think is that. What we've already several people already asked for essentially the break down by expenditure by code we're going we're only that for every single school that break down by every single. Yeah. Madam chair that would be a big list but but we will again I think that's a doesn't matter how big it is at this point the more data you can give us the better on this happened to go right at Senator Dismang a recognized in a think you already have that vehicle you did there is a website for members to go on the problem is it's a very high level and so for instance if you wanted to see how much is going to bonuses you could not in any way I figure out what was going to bonuses I mean it you know we're capital cost for that matter it's it's very high level fitting into the various components that roll on by the federal government and in broad buckets and so hopefully there's a way to break that down so this is a searchable format and we can figure out a kind of what's what's been spent where and just and I will say and and I think it's something we need to. Thank you the members are asking is how engaged or we in advising or relaying possible You know the possibilities of these funds to the school district's grouse any mentioned earlier so I'll bring it up now talk to some of the districts or other states and for instance Missy utilized you know the best I understand that they wanted to focus on five goals with utilization of their ESR funds they coordinated with their superintendents to get those five goals accomplished retention and recruitment being one of those five plus learning loss being one of those five or they focused in on projects that weren't just by on the school district level it was something that was replicated throughout the state and they've had huge successes both recruitment you know in in that that had to do with just the salary but they utilized it to to really close any holes that they had in in actually really affected with the only loss from everything I've read but again I think that's what we're asking for what was the coordinated law you know effort like by the department to help you know the schools understand what they could do and and what's the coordinated or is it more but we just talked about earlier which is it was really up to them well and that made at the. You know core be true but I I am well aware of other states that were very engaged on utilization of those funds across their state. All right well we're here and then got lots more on the board and we've talked about we've had this request for the for expenses never wants to know what what's been spent where. Exactly what can you get this so go through about it how the expenses are reported right now they're high level explain to me what kind of detail you can give us and. Just so everyone's on the same page as to what data you're going to be giving us okay so to start just to say that every district under the federal law was required to develop a local plan and post that plan on the website that was a plan that really established how they were going to re open their schools and and the money that they were receiving from federal government how support that obviously in Arkansas we we re opened our schools we said we were going to be open much different than other states so the flexibility that was granted for the district's was to really not about how to re open but how to safely stay open so that information is available that should be on every district's website the we we can get you very detailed information according to the budget categories and how what what might be and what would will take a while is to. get. Detailed descriptions within each of those because then that money gets spent and you know if you're wanting invoices and and receipts and that sort of thing that that's going to take awhile but I mean that's information that they have to do to maintain for audit purposes so we can probably what it would be best for us to do is when we take this back to the team and let let the team give you a summary prepare summary for you of what you would expect to see in that report and and how it you know each component links to the other and we'll get that to you before we actually get you the report so you can see it what what's coming and then that will help us think through you know the best way to get you the details you need all right these details are being requested by noon tomorrow. That measure respectfully there's no way all right that we can get you as much detail as we can but the level of detail that that I'm hearing is it will take sometime to compile okay so that everybody here may get bored with my line of questioning but I'm an accountant by by my schooling and so and I'm not saying this dashboard they're talking about but this dashboard has I don't even know what we still using asus is it the asus codes that are reported. No Senate is means to let me know. So that's good issues ACT scan and asking have expense code and I can get as detailed down as you want it I I that's I guess if that's what you want to get out that detailed level we can we can go down that far the transparency website shows the the buckets that were allowable the continuity of operations school safety the different things that the high level things that districts can use those funds for underneath those pro jam program coach we have object because we have a expenditure codes so I can keep going down to get to that expansion co but that'll be a huge report but if it'll it'll be detailed down to just show you if it was still salaries if it was spent on paper pens whatever it whatever was spent on it that school district level how they input it that detail in there we can pull that out dogs that that report will be. B. when we get to all two hundred school districts but I can't I can start working on that that's what you're asking how long yes and how long would it take. What do you how many years you want do you want since twenty. Would you like since the start of the ESR funds. Okay that's three years worth of data for each down that's that's going to take. I'm scared to say how long it'd take up because I don't know have of ever pulled it out that much data at one time so it yeah I need a couple taste at least to try to to see what I can pull out of it. Okay thank you. Senator Hammer you see number ninety two is that correct. All right you're recognized thank you would you just give me the numbers real quick that besides the potential five hundred million that we made for the vote on what what are the balance would shift what's the balance of that Sir funds available are there any left would you hit that again please real quick. A there's a I have to go back to get the exact amount but what I remember last time was of the total allocations there's a little over half eight hundred million left of the total eight the one point seven billion. Okay and that doesn't include if we do what we do Thursday the five hundred would go back in on top of that is that the correct I don't know if we've spent any of that five hundred yet so that would include so we would not be able to spend the eight I think it's the over eight hundred million I have to get you for sure how much that is but I don't know right right of the I've got one more question that you're if I may for them but connect direct can a direct question do your secretary Q. wants to ask it. It's it's if we. A voice vote if we vote void the vote would we not need to know how much of that five hundred million they've or expand or should that information be available to us Thursday before we take action because are we going to handle that. You just. I guess this may be this is I think this is how this works the school district's reach a lot of a certain amount of money that come that is that makes up that half a billion dollars correct and so each school district is allowed to draw down their share of that half a billion and it is rough numbers now and some of them have funds remaining from the other half billion in the half billion for that some of them I don't think it's been some of the first round lease it was not too long ago some had not drawn hardly anything at all and so it's a little bit more complicated than probably what what we're saying but there is have any of the schools drawn out of this new tranche of half a million dollars that we just a appropriated and that would probably be fairly easy to know it's only been less than thirty days at this point there I just got a text and we spent one point eight million at that five hundred to date right now in any any Ken what we would be expunging would be an appropriation at this point so far and if I may Senator had it backwards we've spent eight hundred fifty eight million there's nine hundred fourteen million left to the one point seven billion. Okay all right can I ask one more question thank you so so this contract Secretary keys comments you said they were restricted based on what you say title on formula is that what you said what was the funds were distributed to districts are allocated districts based on title one formula yes right so so the schools want to say give four thousand dollar raise some might be it might be greater difficulty for some than others based on how much they would receive use that formula is that interacted records state know that that is accurate and then you also have to factor in the twenty percent requirement from the fed's that they had to set aside to for learning loss all right but let's say that the school want to use some of that money for other purposes like Senator mention the five distinct person may they may they got the money put a new chiller and or other improvements. And that was already budgeted money in their local budget that would be creative bility for them to redirect that money in order to give raises not having to spend that money on a item that may be S. R. funds totally allowed him for is that is that a pathway or is that not a pathway in budgeting procedures I thank our. Yes that could be a pathway of that if if they were. If they were using operating under strict operating funds and it planned to use that for an HVAC project. And they instead used Esther funds then that would free up whatever portion of that unrestricted revenue unrestricted fund that they could use for other things so that would have pushed it back to the local level to look at their finances see if they could got some of that extra money to use for something that maybe they are had built in the budget but now all of a sudden manner from heaven fell down and they were able to use that money for something else they could re directed what they say using the ESR Fund in order to create the ability to give their teachers and other employees raises is that is that I think there are some capital cost issues that that some districts were able to use as for funds for that HVAC are there anything deal air quality was an approved use spacing if I needed to add room for social distancing me that that's all those things would have been eligible uses so yes that would have relieved some pressure on their operating budget for their capital budget all right so finally when we get that list from used to how the school spent the money we we will have some idea how much was used for capital expenses when we get the comprehensive list for use that correct yes okay it just a senator just also reminder that for capital expenses anything dealing with construction HVAC they had to submit a detailed plan to the department that is the only thing that we under federal law had responsibility to review and approve before they could actually spend the dollars are thank you thank measure sure all right see number seventy five Speaker Shepherd you're recognized. Thank you madam chair appreciate you're recognized me I'm not on the committee but do have a question I just the number one I've heard different numbers are around it just to be clear how much money how much of the S. R. funds are still sitting at the department today. When you say sitting I mean because there's the federal funds we can only pull down we have an expenditure to pull about four but of the one point seven billion there still nine hundred million available for pull down. Okay and then between now and Thursday how many of how much of that money is going to be spent. I don't I don't I would have to see what this it depends on what the district shall stand when I pull there's the report to see if they spend we usually do it monthly so I would expect a whole lot that's why I was able to get the we spent one point eight million last month the the the five hundred million so far. Okay and then one final question I've seen a memo from the secretary of education that was and that encourage the use of the S. R. funds for in part for retention at in the memo I saw really focused on retention of teachers is that a memo that that the department received. Yes okay thank you. All right and what what we're gonna do here is I'm I'm allowed latitude most of these on the board or not actual committee members but this is an important topic so we're going to allow some latitude just kind of keep requirements for your quads your questions to a minimum we're seat number forty one. You're recognized representative rob. Thank you Mr shelling you know John we've we've heard all these things about the raises and bonuses where you know if you're talking about a bonus your drama one time money if you're talking to raise your child but something that if you started out with thirty six U. went to forty thousand dollars for the minimum you know that's something that re occurs every year. Now with the money that we spoke about this morning this morning about the school money that's actually in place now and then we have the money there's actually here the one point six and we've been hearing about what do we plan on actually doing here to what are we going to look at a bonus of one time money are we are we looking at of raises that actually is gonna reoccur each year because the federal money will only be one time on. S. as related to the ESR funds I think the caution has been and even in the letter the memo from secretary called on it talked about the the the concern about using expiring funds for increasing the salary scales all right so I think what we're talking about there is incentives and bonuses. That would not be on going commitments from the district. Follow please you're recognized John what what I can understand is is let's just say that line and I spoke about this earlier today this you know the about the most we have ever carried over is about three hundred fifty to four hundred million dollars of. If you for your both of these together this this a change in the minimum and then you talk about a four thousand dollar bonus. That's that's a whole lot and and I just want to how you can substantiate knowing that if you can't do it year by year which when we talk to represent right we talk about the the governor's proposal retirement. Well in in that proposal it was adding four hundred twenty five dollars to the foundation funding so that was an ongoing. that that's that's not the same as expiring funds so there's gonna be a proposed increase of four and twenty five dollars to the foundation funding that we would not expired okay that I really I don't want to get into the discussion of the actual funding formula or the base salary I don't wanna get into that discussion today in this committee so all right thank you senator representative rise Senator Ingram you're recognized. Thank you madam chair of. Arkansas is not the only state to get Esther funds of the states that are raising the of base salary around us like Mississippi there get master funds as well correct yes thank you. All right see number forty five thank you senator thank you for the letter to see if not a member of the committee service making it it does sound like you have your work cut out for you and in compiling this state at although I do think it's important for that and the legislature to know how these funds are being spent by by districts I do appreciate how you have kind of highlighted the dashboard and as our funds to the education committee on this is not the person I'm hearing of this but it is important for the legislature at large to know what those funds are going toward it sounds to me that the concern is that you know these funds have not been spent on teacher retention and recruitment bonuses even though that wasn't allowable expense but what I'm hearing you say is that because this list is so robust and comprehensive and long. That's because schools have so many expenses and needs that they need to find. Not just teacher recruitment and retention bonuses would you agree with that. The yes the would agree that the districts have a lot of very types of expenses as well and that's one of the federal law provided such latitude across a number how many buckets the general buckets for five I think Big buckets that we that we were have allowed in within those buckets over. Other very broad categories so yes and it was pretty flexible cross blotter range of expenses and just a quick follow up it sounds like you know if schools are able to use funds for these benefits but also have chosen other projects such as like you mention repairing broken H. fax systems or making thank you know at repairs to the facilities or investing money in learning license you mentioned that twenty percent was required but my guess is that schools are investing even more than twenty percent of their US or funds into recovering that learning loss for students in investing in things like intervention as an instructional facilitators and tutoring and after school programs instead of upping their own salary are getting bonuses because schools are seeing the most immediate needs are things like facilities things like taking care of their students physical and educational needs so what I'm hearing you say is yes while we could have spent as defined under on providing these bonuses there are so many other vital needs that schools have that they are just now able to pursue and find because of these federal funds I'm hearing you correctly. Yes and and I think that's accurate but it's also important to note that each district under the law under federal law is required to bring in stakeholder feedback they were you're not just their board parents others in the community to help develop and keep them apprised of those plans so from district to district it was just a wide range of things that they identified as priorities thank you I I just one never forget we had an educator come into the Education Committee in a conversation about these as or fines and say this is the first time that we have been able to adequately fund and and operate the initiatives that we need for our students because of these funds and so it's not that this is that you know the one thing that schools could have and should have done to provide notice as there are vastly varied needs that schools are are utilizing support thank you if the amount of the back of that because I I understand I think with the representative was going and I mean at the end of the day it's matter of privatization right to the DOE said are we we prioritized retreat recruitment retention in the mental health of our teachers without the staff at the schools that's what they said in our districts may not necessarily said the exact same thing to her point that may have a lot of other needs me they want to buy a bunch of air purifiers or whatever it may be. Or needed the update and expect system that was probably or should have been updated that may be. But. I think what we're saying is what we would like to see and I think the reason you have a motion that on the table as we would like to prioritize teachers and we would like to know that our school districts are doing same and and that's what I think that's what we need to see because we don't know we're just all kind of guessing at this point I would love to see that we prioritize learning loss in every district. I mean because I wouldn't focusing on the student's viewpoint that would have been wonderful and we will see that we get the information back to the way that it is right now the way that it if you look at that website pulled up on your phone if you can tell what these things have been spent on good for you because I cannot. So again I I do look forward to better understanding how these funds were prioritized so far and also look for to emphasizing the importance of utilizing these funds for retention recruitment and and also just the mental health of our teachers so with that thank. Thank you see number sixty seven representative can't but Cavenaugh you're recognized thank you madam chair my question just really. Pretty quick on these funds I'm assuming that there's audit on how the schools actually spend them to make sure that they go with the guidelines of what they're supposed to be used for that correct. Eventually yes it's it's not on the same me we have legislative audit obviously in that they would be subject to reviewing these funds as well but they're also subject to review by the federal office of inspector general Nicks right agency and that meant that may not happen for some time in the funds are. They expired twenty twenty four. Okay so there's gonna be a time lag before a lot of audit type activity would be occurring on once we do that they have an audit in this discovered that they might not have used it in the manner that these funds because they got they got handcuffs on him because it come from the feds. What are the consequences to the schools that they are not used properly potentially paying those funds back to the federal. Okay thank you. All right so far this last one in the queue you Senator Irvin you're recognized. Thank you just a piggy back on what represent Godfrey Senator Dismang have highlighted we're talking about power torque price rising prioritizing spending we're talking about cascine all these things would you agree that we have an adequacy study. That actually looks at all categories of expenditures for education funding and that's a process that this legislature. Takes on in a very thoughtful deliberative manner so that we do look at all the expenses that represent Godfrey just talked about that it's a thoughtful deliberative process that we look at every expenditure and we try to take the guessing out of things we try to prioritize our spending for public school education per the constitution per our laws and that we do that and a thoughtful deliberative manner in partnership and collaboration with the department of education and the Arkansas legislature. Is that how you would characterize adequacy study. Yes okay so. I would just highlight that we are in the middle of that. Would you agree with that yes we are in the middle of an adequacy study how long have we had the adequacy study. Since two thousand four okay so it should be no surprise to anybody. Correct that we're in the middle of adequacy study that looks at all of these questions that's supposed to take the guessing out of everything that's supposed to. Launches down the path of deliberative thoughtful dialogue collaboration in process to where we fund schools adequately and as equally as we can because of the Lake View Kate's. Primarily. Yes okay and we're in the middle of that and that results in November with recommendations to follow for the next general session and we've done that since two thousand and four. And I would just remind everybody that is the purpose of it. B. and haphazard. Guessing. Is not something. That will result in thoughtful policy for the state of Arkansas. That's reckless. Thank you for the latitude. All right. Any other questions. All right thank you for any other questions for you at this time. Does anyone have any questions on items one three four in one three four. I have seen none will consider either in item M. reviewed. All right there's no other business and we will consider this meeting adjourned thank you.