Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC)

Thanks for being here I'll call the Arkansas Legislative Council order if you will stand with me when I Senator Wallace leaves an opening prayer. Did you mac senator Wallace. Oh lord our heavenly father thank you for this day. Thank you for allowing us together together together. Lord help us to make wise decisions today what's of our state what's of our family and our love ones a lord in Jesus name on it. Thank you for that and then the. You have a copy of the minutes on your desk. You had time look that if the I have a motion approved of a motion and a second on favor documented say aye. Post thank you I'm not going to represent a recognized representative to Perry if you will go down for a and the like we've got something special. A members of a can. Squat down will. representative Perry thank you thank you Mr chairman can I ask captain Charlie Bryce to join me. Okay have come forward. I got a. Members it's a great privilege and honor to recognize captain Bryce. For his dedicated service and we have a citation reform he's retiring at the end of the month. And you'll see some of the notes that we have form here citation. Says captain Charlie Bryce whereas police officers or selfless people build the courage and strength to wear the badge not for glory or recognition but in hope they will make a profound difference for the people they serve and whereas captain Charlie Bryce is one such individual who began his career with the Arkansas state capitol police department on January fourth nineteen ninety three he rose through the ranks being promoted to sergeant in two thousand one and captain in twenty eleven now retires on June twenty eight twenty twenty two after more than twenty nine years of dedicated service to the people of Arkansas whereas captain Bryce the vote devoted his career to protecting others he proudly served his country in the United States Air Force on retirement from the Air Force as in the five staff sergeant he joined the Air National Guard and was assigned to the one eighty nine security forces he retired as any sex technical sergeant with a combined total of twenty five years of on a roll military service. Whereas leave leadership and altruism display by captain Bryce is a testament to his character in an example of his desire to protect the lives will be those he is sworn to serve with his approachable and friendly disposition he has endeared himself to callous people at the Arkansas state capitol who will miss him upon his retirement in whereas the house of representatives of the ninety third General Assembly the state of Arkansas takes great pride in recognizing captain Charlie Bryce upon his retirement and wishes him well therefore pursuant to the motion of representative mark Perry and Jeff Wardlaw the Arkansas house of representatives directs that this act they should be presented to you today seventeenth day June twenty twenty two congratulations. Ingressive you legislation ward on to it but in front of you. Good morning. I just want to thank you guys for this It's been a pleasure. Serving you. I don't think. It's been twenty nine years but I don't think anybody was in the legislative body when I started. But when I do start dating have term limits so someone probably would still be your. The. But the is this this been great of this you know I have a let's sit back I was on leave when this happens but now it's getting ready to start burning my leave up when this happened but you know god has a reason for everything. In a. We've been through some storms appear. The rights to protest long hours working weekends holidays in a but you know it's been great we've always had a good support is perhaps support behind us you guys have always been there when I come to budget for us give me a quick minute everything costs. I haven't changed so. In the law. Purcellville we got more personnel we appreciate all the votes to with additional personnel and everything that you guys have done. Come to police and women were here because when I started you Sir we came to work we left about doing nothing she. The. Well you don't know what's going to happen we got school fleets have you high power weapons and all this stuff the last to capitol police would never have such I mean in the. It's a good thing because guys need equipment to work with and I move forward because you don't you don't you never know. What we do it with some. Crazy people I remember like that when I started just so quiet. It in no less could be used in a call from a guy with a R. fifteen looking at two point eight U.. In a this out bedtime have chains and you walk around on the ground with a weapon so we'll know where. We appreciate you guys everything you do in the. The only behalf and good people. We'll. What do you. Thank you. Okay thank you. Thank you for that and we uh the brushed Kappa Russian your prayers. next we will have the Preservation of the revenue report this morning by a missile in the car right. All right you're recognized thank you Mr chairman Adam D. is the revenue report three may of twenty twenty two. You can see there in the middle of the first page on collections your date birth skews me through may twenty twenty two about seven point eight billion. You can see on the far right hand column that's an eight a half percent increase over collections about the same time period last fiscal year. You gotta page two. This is the graph this is going to compare collections to the forecast and as you can see for may we are four point six million above the forecast that was revised last month the remaining pages provide detail about collections and Mr chairman that concludes my remarks on the written report. Okay we thank you for that. You saying any questions your dismissed. And we are zeroing in on the end of the fiscal year coming up real quick. Next I have my co chair and representative Wardlaw present the executive search committee report. Thank you Mr executive scope subcommittee met on Tuesday June fourteen and reviewed and approved March rule from the Arkansas insurance department approval was sent out to all the LC members in addition to subcommittee heard a rule from the department Human Services. Related to acute crisis units the subcommittee requesting clarification on the rule. Members that clarification was the Division of different age groups and those crisis units that clarification was fixed and of rules approved and notice was sent out again all LC committee members finally some committee recommended that the July. Two thousand twenty two meeting of LCB moved back one week to July twenty second with all A. L. C. meetings being held Monday July eighteenth through Thursday July twenty one the report service as required notice to the members of rescheduling of that regular meeting how moved for adoption of this report. Seeing any questions so all in favor not the reports say aye. Posed for is adopted the data point of personal privilege just a second I want to thank all the agency heads secretaries directors. who make yourself available to the body could during the week of council when I came here fourteen years ago it was just a given we had the for some mind people here all the time to talk to and I understand the world changing understand agencies are grown and that can always be but I I've made the comment this week I don't know if I agency had a at a Director and it's and I was totally dead and I said never seen them. And don't know who they are and that's to a less been mention. So for those of you that's doing that and make yourself available to legislators for us to have one on ones it's not it's not needed all the time any other's a telephone but it's just not the same thing. And I don't need your respect but I think this body did she deserve the respect to on occasion to to show up and be a part of your rights thank you. And with that the. We're going to have the administration rule report representative bees. Thank you Mr chairman administrative rule subcommittee met on Thursday June sixteenth the subcommittee adopted a report of the executive subcommittee concerning its approval of an emergency rule the subcommittee received agency updates on outstanding rulemaking pursuant ACT five ninety five of twenty twenty one and filed written summaries it also filed the June monthly written updates pursuant ACT five ninety five. The subcommittee approved an agency's request to be excluded from further ACT five ninety five reporting requirements and that the agency's request a rule by the Arkansas State Medical Board and a rule by the Salim county regional solid waste district waste management district board were pulled from consideration prior to the meeting. At the agency's request a rule by the Arkansas state board of nursing was pulled from consideration at this meeting subcommittee held the Commission on a water well construction supervision rule for consideration at the subcommittee September meeting the subcommittee also held a rule by the Arkansas State Medical Board concerning telemedicine for consideration of the committee's August meeting all of the rules were reviewed and approved with Senator Missy Irvin knowing her objection to the rule of the veterinary medical examining board concerning telehealth and telemedicine I move adoption of the report. K. Singh no question I have a motion to adopt the report motion second all in favor aye opposed mystery rules report is adopted higher education center in which you're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman the higher education subcommittee met on Monday June thirteenth two thousand twenty two subcommittee heard testimony regarding the following items we had an overview of the Arkansas center for forest business at the university of Arkansas Monticello as an economic and workforce driver for Arkansas and we had a discussion of the impact of the University of Arkansas pine bluff on first generation college students and eighteen ninety land grant mission. I'm moved to have this report review. Okay I have a first. Okay this is from the next and I do have a motion and a second all in favor aye opposed okay Reports adopted Senator sample you're recognized for the medical marijuana we're set forth thank you Mr chairman the medical marijuana oversight committee met Monday June thirteenth twenty two. Of the Arkansas House thank medical board provided a review of protruding number thirty eight regarding telemedicine the subgroup committee took no action regarding the roof. You move in the options that report levels option report have that I have a second go to your Wardlaw in favor I posed next we have a peer report and centralist monarchy. Thank you Mr chairman of the peer subcommittee met on Tuesday June fourteenth subcommittee receive reports reviewed request and recruit approved request for preparation transfers fund transfers a request maintained a two point one percent deduction on general revenues special revenues for the state's interest Services Fund in request provide prior approval of preparation transfers to DFA when closing the books for fiscal year twenty twenty to two items on the report were held in there is one item one more item where members requested more information the first told is for items C. two and infrastructure request from eighty Q. for their weather recession assistance programme resident representative from the Department energy and environment are here to provide more information and to answer questions and so I would if we can go ahead and bring those folks for questions and I move to the rest of. Yes Sir for those. We'll come forward. Welcome Pritchett you being here this morning if you would turn your mind going with this lead you to recognize the symptoms to your who you with and we turned back over Senator Dismang. Morning my name is Lawrence mangling the chief administrative the energy programs the department energy department. There were specific questions on the weather relation program that was asked on to the I was able to answer those that time. I brought back into the specific staff who run that program with miss Mitchell Simpson. He's the director of the Arkansas Energy Office and K. joiner who is the program manager for the weatherization program. So as to questions you may have yeah and so just for the member's benefit we received a written response on the a number of the different items or you know questions that we had I think for this membership in particular if we could just go through a couple of those and and it's really to make sure we're bringing awareness of the program to our constituents and also those that may seek to apply to be the vendors that are providing those services because that that that was a long line to the questions of you could give a brief overview of our constituents can find this information then also if you have a an entity in your district that would like to compete to be one of those entities that help provide the services. Yes Sir happy to do that again Mitchell Simpson director of the Energy Office of the Arkansas department of energy and environment of the weatherization program is a program designed for low income residents of who we need assistance in by the rise in their homes for example they do their structure may need additional insulation weather sealing and in some cases some equipment repair or replacement of folks can access those services through a number of community action agencies and or nonprofit community based organizations that operate or provide the services to the program Arkansas has six such providers that cover all seventy five territories in the State of Arkansas applicants can walk in through the door or apply online for those services at those community based organizations their income requirements that an applicant that determines whether or not an applicant is qualified for those programs or services and if they are damned if they are deemed eligible for their services then there is an application process that's sort of reviewed there is an energy audit on the hold that determines the particular measures that will make the house or energy efficient and then the work is is performed on the home and then there are value evaluative actions afterwards to make sure that the work was performed up to the quality or the standard of the program the program does it use a standard set of work specifications so it does turn out to be a pretty highly technical program and our clients or recipients of the service DO and up with a very well all insulated or winterized home in terms of non profits or other community based organizations becoming a part of the program if there is a territory that is open that is not currently being serviced If that nonprofit has the appropriate equipment like blower door testing equipment which can sometimes be a bit costly if they have a blower door equipment or other required equipment to run the program if they have qualified staff so for example they may need an energy auditor on staff or a quality control inspector on staff. And if they have the financial wherewithal to manage that program they can certainly respond to a solicitation to provide services to a particular area. Okay are you ready for some questions yes Sir the representative one month well you Mr a resident brown and and regular Walmart C. you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair Mr Simpson I'm just curious the weather recession program is that available to homeowners only or to renters or even landlord's. It's available to both homeowners and renters where program services about ninety percent homeowners is about ten percent of the population or our service our clients or renters thank you yes ma'am. Senator Elliot you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair when you use the terminology energy audit could you just say for people who are listening who might not understand what that might mean for their home so tell us what might happen if you come somebody come to nothing on it sure they come through and review of the characteristics of the hall like the age of the home the type of equipment that's in the home the the direction the home is facing the number of applicants in the home and we use or the program employees a set of of software database in the input all those metrics for that particular property or that home into this database and then that database of sensually models what a program at what measures are appropriate for that home and so once those measures are installed and energy order the end comes back to make sure that those ins installed measures are performing up to specifications and if they were properly installed. That response of senator Elliots it is to is to me but you know something that will but it would be really good if you said to me as if I were a third grader what is it made me for my windows my doors and information you know things like that yes ma'am. Yes so we'll come into will come into your home of look at your windows to see if there draughty if there if they need to be seal will go into your attic or crawlspace and check the install insulation is adequate are convening spots doesn't need to be layered hand or do we are is it just completely missing and we need to add that the and will check your equipment is as a as a functioning as designed what's the age of that equipment is it severely and efficient is it unreliable okay we'll look at that particular Quitman make that assessment and if the if the auditing software warrants it then we will replace that equipment or installed insulation or call conceal wherever it's it's necessary. That's great thank you yes thank you Mr chair. Thank you and to display in Europe next in Livonia okay if you put you but again we'll get you back you Senator Irvin you're recognized. Thank you for the information I'm right here thank you sorry can you be more specific about the names of these nonprofit for the first for our folks community at the community action agencies yes ma'am like Crawford Sebastian develop development council community development council is one central Arkansas Development Council Black River area development are a few of them we also have a nonprofit service our multi family and southeast a better community developers so those are about four or so of the six community action agencies and nonprofits and service providers action services are those listed on your website yes they are under threat yes ma'am we provided in terms of the report that was requested we also provided a map that shows the territories of all of the six weatherization providers and the number of units typically or whether I was in the funding is there any money budgeted within this program to advertise that program throughout the state each of the community action agencies do have administrative dollars that they're used to that they use to advertise the program in their loss as they may have information on their website they may advertise through a local radio station they may advertise through a local newspaper okay thank you so much yes ma'am. Thank you Senator Hickey you're recognized but thank you Sir I'm up here Sir thank. I'm aware of these type of programs that have a have concerns as far as application of. they all sound good on the service the but I know for a fact that the. Different out properties whether they're on a foundation cross base things of that nature if the programs themselves are not designed right on the for any and there's issues with those so. Are you making made a comment that after the fact I believe is what you said that you know somebody goes out to verify that the work's been done is there anything that's being done during the process to make sure that that contractor subcontractor whoever's doing the work is following those guidelines. Do you mean as the program is the work is actually being performed that's correct from kind of much the same way that somebody would do a drawl so that you know as the words be informed it twenty percent fifty percent seventy five percent a hundred percent that you know that things are progressing along that there was not issues on the on the front end that you know we're being overlooked or by a pastor so that somebody can get the money. Yes Sir all ask our senior programs manager case honor to respond to that yeah and then Mister chair I'll have a additional questions after that. Good question and we do have first of all I'd I'd say that we have training for contractors because we would you recognize yourself on a thank you or if you did I miss sorry I'm K. joiner I work for the office Arkansas energy office as senior programs manager. So I would say first that we make sure that contractors who are procured to do the weather station work are trained on the US standard work specifications that are required so they know they and their experience contractors but we want them to know exactly how we want our mission energy efficient measures installed so we we do that training on the front end and then when they are working in a home they are in communication with the community action agency because if a run across anything that was not noticed or something that comes to light as they begin their work and they need to be in communication as to how to handle that so are a committee action agencies have staff that have oversight for the contractors and once the contractors are finished and they there in the home. Very quickly afterwards to make sure that the all the work means standards and if they don't then they call the contractor back if you know before he's for the contractors pay they have to make sure that everything is exactly as it needs to be okay so you're not going to be doing draws as these projects are going on so in other words if there is a if it's a and we'll make something up here if it's an eight thousand dollar project and the subcontractor contractor wants two thousand dollars because they've done part of the work you're not going to be dispersing that. No Sir okay so all of that will be done at the end. after the work's done and then a qualified person is going to go out to make sure that the the work was performed at the. After they're totally finished and then there will sign off on it is that correct that's correct okay this one ACT just a couple additional questions okay so let's say this some work was done improperly and affects the House Which is a possibility. Is in is insurance being required of all the contractors subcontractors bonding what what are we doing as far as those type of procedures yes all the contractors that work on houses in the weather station program have to be insured and we we have to have liability insurance so we we do Check that to make sure that that's in effect so no one is going into a house without. Proper it liability insurance and you do have those safeguards those safeguards in in place are you requiring like certain dollar limits for coverage on those the went into that yet. Yes I believe it's a hundred thousand per per contractor okay I would think that if the contractor was is that per project or just overall. I think it's overall yes I think personally that that should be looked at because of the voter contractors doing or subcontractors doing multiple projects that that is a very minimal small amount. So okay thank you Mr. Thank you representive right you're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman. Right over here could you describe the eligibility for weather is ation services and I'm sure there's some sort of income qualification that folks have to me and serve be it is an income qualify program so our formula is basically based on a two hundred percent of federal poverty level which you have to bring that into a practical example a household of wine you could earn no more than approximately twenty seven thousand dollars annually household of four could earn approximately no more than fifty five thousand dollars annually there are sort of folk pop up my recipients were prioritize or those who are elderly people with a disability households with children of individuals with a high energy burden which means that more than seven percent or more of their income is going towards paying for energy and or there are high energy users so that drafty house that I mentioned earlier or that unreliable equipment that I mentioned earlier may call the homeowners home to consume and a abnormal amount of energy okay you mentioned about ten percent of the customers of this program or renters when you're when you're using when you're verifying the income for eligibility or using the income of the renter or the income of the landlord the renter okay and is is this for these programs federally funded or state all state funded what's the breakdown they're federally funded okay. Okay all right thank you yes Sir. Thank you the Senator Hammer you're recognized thank you Mr away here G. left. Okay wait list okay. Of the door let the the entities that are in the communities that are receiving the applications of you mentioned nonprofit server is just pretty wide ranging who they are is that correct general American of stabbings community action agencies throughout the state but are and what what percentage of administration are they receiving for their part. The weatherization program in general allows approximately fifteen percent of the funds to be used for administration but we split that with the C. A. A. and so that covers both the community action agencies administrative costs and the departments the community action agencies and up with about twelve to thirteen percent of the funds for their ministrations House and the Department retains about two to three percent for its administrator okay problems all right and then when the work is actually done. And two Senator Hickey point the inspection that is going to be made is that done by employees of the agency or is that done by individuals that are associated with those entities that are in the communities making the award. Each of the community action agencies has to have a quote for quality control inspector on staff to inspect the units and then our department has a quality control inspector on staff that performs on site inspections for approximately ten percent of whether rise units okay so let your checks and balances and the person that's with the entity in the community are they licensed or who regulates them being in the fortieth position to go out make a determination yes you know like a home inspector they go through and sort you know certification process give me a comparison is to the people that are going out representing these because they're they're handling the money and then they're proven the final outcome and that could be up to me a little bit about segregation of duties issue there there's a certification process for to see our quality control inspector our credentials as we call it so they are certified by a body in order to be able to do that work okay and then the last question would be this how many complaints have you received in your agency based on work that was done by contractors. Maybe in the last year what what number percentage give me an idea of what kind I'm gonna ask could join respond to that okay we follow up on every complaint of course that were received and usually we receive I would say three or four per year per year yes okay that's that's good percentage thank you one of the things I'd like to offer if I may is that each after each home or unit is whether have there is a customer satisfaction survey that's required so. For that home typically before the home is completed or finished out there is an intention to make sure that customer homeowner or renter is satisfied our thank you Sir. Representative Springer recognized you for questions. Good morning thank you Mr chair I'm on your website and I've been to and. When here to see how easily it would be for a consumer customer to find this and I just found the leak for the county so can you all kind of make it more user friendly because it's hard for them to find out who service their community and as I look at this. You have to go through and put in a whole lot of stuff to get there so that may help the number of persons that you can serve to if your because I had a hard time finding I'm pretty computer savvy yes so if you all would probably look at that to make it more readily available absolutely I appreciate the feedback thank. Representive love you're recognized. Okay. I'm sorry I'm okay talking that represent Senator Hammer thank you Mr chair. I was listening to the conversation And I believe it was Senator Hickey asking in regards to trawls that contractors can make. No and when you are having a conversation. I just wanna make sure that I understood correctly then you have to complete the project before you make a drawing you cannot make draws during the project's. That's correct so a contractor has to commit they have to abide by the federal rules of the program in terms of making sure they performed all of those works best specs before they can receive payment for their services so that the completely complete the job okay so then that is a federal rule that they have to complete the job before they can make a draw that is is that that is right yes before they come back before we can draw down the money to pay them yes Sir. I guess someone. We may have to look at them because here's the thing if you're a contractor. And you can you are assigned several of these projects to do. And just say just say your contract and you have three or four. If each of those projects are eight thousand dollars I think that was the number that you're using that contractor for for maybe a small a contract for maybe a large contract it may not be a problem before smaller contractors it may be in so I'm just wondering if we are we're we're if we can really take a look at that because for small business that might be a problem for larger contractor it may not be. we can definitely look at that that is a federal requirement there are some instances where we advance funds to the community action agency so that they can get those smaller contractors started but generally it's it's a requirement that's put in place just to ensure that the unit the weather's ation of the unit is fully completed and during the onboarding process for the community action agencies that information to share that expectation shared some of those contractors agreed to be a contractor the weatherization service a program they understand that going into the program and have agreed to agree to that sort of process okay so let me ask you this with this being a federal program is there a certain percentage percentage of minority business that you're trying to do or is it. Are they just open to. The New. We do make an effort to when we procure cont well I say we when the community action agencies procure contractors they do it. By an advertise process that You know that they advertise statewide for for contractors and they are we also have in the past used The minority list that they have at the Arkansas Economic Development Commission so so we are you know we are reaching out to minority contractors and we have in the past also done Contractor meetings around the state so the contractors can learn more about the proper. The prop the program and they can You know we we do I tried every way we can to reach out to minority contractors they're definitely part of the process and they. The procurement is through sealed bids so once everyone knows about the program then we actually selected for sale bed. Do you all believe that this may create impediment for minority contractors who made who may be smaller in nature. we have had we had to have minority contractors involved We Yes I seven and two in response to another question we do provide training as well to make sure that the every contractor knows the standards that are expected their called standard work specifications that are promulgated by permitted energy that's what we use in our program so we make sure because different contractors do things different ways so we make sure that everyone knows requirements of weather station before they start okay. I'll take this about flowers with the but that I mean that I'm going to let you know that that's a concern of mine in that if we can if we can do something to look at that that would be good thank you thank you Mr thank you I'm going back to the center this month. Thank you Mr chairman of the members I think there's going to be a number of questions and a lot of uncertainty I think about what we're talking about day because what will occasionally use the word we as we rate referencing the contractors the nonprofits and in with but then when I hear the hierarchy of things happen it's not actually we it's the nonprofit in so I don't know if we mean that collectively so I'm confused I think most people are confused I think wanting to make sure of is that when these dollars go out that you know our constituents understand how to receive them I think we want to stand the importance of the nonprofits which you know under this expanded program it's going to be it no closed an additional you know million dollars a year for the nonprofits just to administer the program based on the twelve percent and thirty two million in a five year period in itself and also for members I don't think I understand this is what we're talking about is increasing for a you know a growth in the program on the federal level of thirty two million dollars and I don't want that to be lost but if we could if we could make it but I'd like to make a motion to re refer this back to committee if we can you know contact staff with your question so they can gather some more information we can have a real conversation in a month about where this program is where it's headed and why we do things the way that we're doing. So the industry state just motion referred back to committee for further discussion okay but before take a motion in the actual question is there anything time wise that it this is going to cause concern for we refer this back for July up here. Do you. Yes Sir the pre application for the funds is R. as July will and and so that will require that will cause us to miss that deadline in terms of to the federal government in terms of what the referred questions of repercussions are if we miss that deadline can speak to that right here at this moment. Senator Dismang getting comment on that. Well I mean we're talking about thirty two million dollars we're talking about a program I mean I we can stay here all day and have questions I was trying to say the member some time I mean it mean because it would mean I would just tell you one of my first questions we have to do is settle on the five or you know whatever number of entities that are administering it how long have they have the contracts why do we do it that way we're the efficiencies created I just I want to save the rest of the members from having to go through all of that discussion here right now because I don't think they planned on it and to be honest I didn't either until I was reading to the response again I I just wanna make sure that we have an effective efficient system in place and I want to understand why we're doing it the way we are and it was really muddy whenever we started asking questions because we wish you so many times but it's not truly we it was occasionally the energy department and occasionally the contractor and occasionally the nonprofit that was administering not we we would have meant energy department to me that wasn't the case so that we at I don't know you and you tell me what we need to do but I'm hesitant on releasing thirty two million dollars without making sure the ability to spend thirty two million dollars with the ability to understand what it is we're doing okay I will recognize my culture Wardlaw for statement before thank you motion thank you. Senate is main thank you thank you for your passion on this and you guys need to listen to me for a second. If this thing was this important you had to have this by July first why were you not here in force with the information in the subcommittee the other day because that's the place where this conversation should happen and you wouldn't hear and you didn't have the information that's a problem. If you guys have gotten an agenda item that has to be approved because we're at the end of the fiscal year then bring your details to the subcommittee so the questions can be answered these questions were asked the other day and they could not be answered that's why we're here today. Okay. So certain this man I would second your motion. Members I have a motion the second to send this back to your subcommittee for July question interview. Any discussion on the motion. Senator just feel you're recognized thank you Mr chair I need for the clarity on the July one deadline. If we miss that deadline and this money has been you this is critical money for many of us for many of our constituents and I don't want our constituents to suffer because the process has become muddied unnecessarily could you tell me about that you Senator just fill I just need to quit okay let me interrupt a second you know the the the deal with motions been taken as discussion among okay so we cannot ask questions among among the members yes thank you at what I'd like to know Mister chair is since they did not come to this committee meeting and we miss this money to the chair. Do you have any idea of how we will will we miss this thirty two million dollars because I've heard questions that it seems to me. We can't change federal rules whether we like them or not. And I heard that question raised there other questions that have been raised that a. If we miss it I want to know if we miss this money to the chair. How many people will be impacted because I know that these programs are necessary because there's so many poor people were not going to be able to have the caulking done we're not going to be able to replace the insulation in their homes we're going to continue to a to suffer from these huge increases in energy bills we're seeing people in my community go from paying seventy two dollars for gas to paying three hundred dollars for gas. Three hundred dollars. And what was really telling is that everyone of those individuals was in a rehab center when the bill doubled so I'm really really concerned about us putting off what needs to be done for the people that we're trying to sever. I don't know about you but when this you company took over yes the bills done. And tripled in some instances especially in poor communities and some of that could be mitigated by being able to go into the energy on it and make sure that those individuals I'm not suffering and not being able to pay their bills because we have personally gone into our pockets to help them pay bills maybe that happen where you needed it does what it so I'm very much concerned about us putting this all thank you. Thank you a representative Cavenaugh you're recognized for discussion on the motion thank you Mr chair and just for the record when I was in college I worked for Crowley's Ridge Development Council in the summers. Sometimes in the winters and I worked on the weather's ation program that's what I did that and alcoholics anonymous but that's another story so. This program when I was there works very well. It had checks and balances. And more importantly it helped the lowest of low income our Kansans. To be able to have a place to live. That was livable. Meaning that they could hate and call their home without it taking a vast majority of their very limited income. That's what the program was designed to do they do have checks and balances in it always have had as far as I know when I worked on the program. And I will be honest when I worked there there what really have to be much advertising on this program because the white list on it was unbelievable because word of mouth when around. People knew specially the people that needed this assistance buying new about the program. And as I said it it's kind of baffling to me while we're arguing this when I worked the program and I saw the benefit of it. Is there fraud in it I'm sure that there's fraud in it to some degree there is brought into everything that we do let's be honest let's talk about workforce services if you want to talk about fraud. Then we have to think about who we're really hurting if we missed a federal deadline for the money. And again I will say we're down by federal guidelines on this it's not state guidelines it's federal guidelines and we're implementing a federal program as we do many other ones. And I understand Vice passion about it and I'm all for saving money as you all well know but I also have to know from fatal from personal experiences program does work and is designed to help the lowest low of our Kansans and for us to hold it up I think it's a shame thank you. The center this month. Thank you Mr chairman I understand the concerns and I appreciate the passion and actually that's the reason that I raise the questions that I did earlier I want to ensure that we have an efficient program that is tailored to meet the needs of the most people possible and word of mouth didn't cut it for meeting the needs of the most people possible that helps a certain circle that doesn't help the entire population that needs the help. And so I'll be what what we're trying to do is understand a program that was not able to be explained by those that showed up to present it in Pierre and then again today I would argue most everybody in this room is as confused as we started about how the program is administered. And so what I would like to do it but we don't know what the deadline is we don't even know that we just threw it out. But we can't say for certain what the outcome is going to be so I'll provide a little added to. What I would say is that we make a motion refer this back to committee for further discussion. And allow the the peer committee to have the final say. And it's any of y'all get your stuff in the order would be willing to call that meeting. And so again motion it my To assess the motion to refer it back to committee for further discussion. At a date set by by the chairs depending on when they have the information available for us to consider hopefully before the July first deadline. Okay and then allow allow the peer committee to have final approval. I've got a motion and a second is a right understand that make me do it again this would be a motion to refer it back to your committee if there's discussion with the chairs repair committee it needs to be done before the end of the fiscal year before the July first that could happen. If that happens the disk everybody get their questions that entered in that Committee hopefully will have all the answers and the sub committee would have final say that is a motion on the table I have a motion and a second discussion on the motion Senator Hickey. Just just don't get it will be on the motion and I've been listening this conversation and I do have first hand knowledge unfortunately about where these programs do not work and mine is totally about the way that the policy set up the draws that we've heard about in addition I'm here non profits I want to know if those nonprofits if they're being required to be bonded if they're required to have insurance because if they're actually out there doing the inspection there is some liability this going to them so my worry is actually for the constituents of the consumers of this if the these people get into their homes and destroy it which. Is a not too far fetched I want to make sure that there is some recourse a liability that those constituents those low income people are not just sitting out there that they actually lose their home so that is a valid concern and that goes along with Senator Dismang motion and I hope we can approve it thank you. Senator Irvin you're recognized station on the motion. I just speak in favor of it I have similar have constituents that are with chambers of commerce watching this video this this live hearing. With numbers back to me about how it's not there's nobody in service in my area of the state hardly at all again my conspired insert is for my constituents who are very very poor in north central Arkansas they're not getting the benefit of the program so something's broken I think it's inherent upon us to fix it thank you. Senator Mark Johnson you're recognized for discussion on the motion thank you Mr chairman this is just a question to the chair I think I got the answer moment ago we are referring this to peer with the authorization that if they approve it then that would be final approval would not have to come back to LC this this month is that correct right all right then I have my questions answered and I re I will support the motion thank you Mr. Okay members We have a motion secondly that discussion I will Give latitude to do one adding one more thing To get the questions for this agency to answer before we have a career come your committee if this motion passes say get it to the chairs are the staff where they can get those to the proper ones that will answer those. DO Billy Parrish will be the contact for staff. Okay about understand them motion second all favor I. Opposed. Motion passes. Thank you and we'll we'll be in touch Senator Dismang a recognized you. Q. I there is a whole moving on there's a whole for item L. two in a in G. in at MSG for the department inspector general the member who questions the hold received information from the agency request releasing the hold the last item was not held but there were also questions on item B. two B. the a a RP request from you A. R. for their community navigator pilot program representatives from U. ale are here to discuss program if needed and answer questions just for clarification the program has so far assisted ninety seven entities two hundred persons you know at this point. And be happy to to take any questions if there are any and and ask that the Representative from UALR comport. NO questions we can move on. Don't don't have anybody on the board for you at our. Come on. To the table please. Thank you for being here for you had your back and let us know who you are who you're with I'm Johnny Lee from you a little rock. Michael singleton also with you a little rock. Senator Dismang you're recognized well any and I don't have any additional questions they did send an email over you know kind of outlining what it does and there's five organizations it shall work through to assist small business owners especially those maybe minority or I'm not sure I can remember all that but you may just want to give a just a a really quick overview of what it is that you are doing so we can make sure our constituents again understand program exist sure also a little bit just because I was here here and when I just kind of get a quick overview but then Michael singleton who is with the small business development center could answer any more detailed questions if need be but at any of you that were up here may remember that sort of the basic question was where what is this program entail and and just in short in the first part of covid the SPDC on behalf of the US small business administration administered a good amount of here's dollars that went out to assist us small businesses around the state that there are regular network of small business development centers of what the SBA realized on the back end of a law that cares dollars was that there were a lot of populations who are not accessing things like the PPP's and other other fines they had come about from from cares dollar so that they put out the call for this project which is the navigator project to try to create and and and create some innovative ways of reaching out to some of those disadvantaged populations I do want to point out that of veterans and the rural areas where a big piece of what was missing that they wanted to make sure that eight was getting out to and I think Michael tell you that we rely circuit number Hispanic a small businesses that weren't being reach so the whole part of the program was for SBA to feel like they were reaching out into around the state against Russian of rural areas those disadvantaged population so that's what we've been working on it's a very new program as I said. The other day we just started to work in February this appropriation request was to continue the program into next year and we will be glad to come back and give a report on further impact as you said Senator Dismang a to this point since February we've had individual consultations with that ninety seven individuals small business entrepreneurs around the state through these through these various organizations but we've also had workshops and other training at for an additional two hundred people in those populations that have attended those sessions so that's sort of it and not sure will be glad to try to figure out any other concerns if you happen. Three nine. I thank you for that with that members of I'm done talking to plot I move for adoption report which includes removing the whole holds in approving items L. two. Thank you to the center that's one second might messed up part of. Just up to. Right okay we're good there was. Thank you it. The motion okay member I have a motion and a second our favor I. A post. Thank you for that we are now going to policy making and Representive all you're recognized for that record thank you Mr chair policy making a subcommittee met on Wednesday June the fifteenth and discuss the proposed committee fund allocations for mileage and per diem for fiscal year twenty twenty three the subcommittee recommended approval of the committee fund allocations that are set forth in the attachment to this report this balance will be effective July first twenty twenty two and I move adoption of the report. Okay I have a motion and a second. The second night and seeing no questions on favor I. Posed the report is adopted policy making next up Senator Flippo for review report. Thank you Mr chair the review review subcommittee that Tuesday and reviewed methods of finance and alternative delivery construction project discretionary grants and services contracts. No items were held representative Cavenaugh acts as to several questions and I move adoption of the report. We appreciate that person allowed on board. Saying no questions have a motion and a second all in favor aye aye opposed thank you Senator Flippo and our personnel classification compensation plan reporter representative Hillman. Thank you Mr chairman the personnel committee met Wednesday. Mmhm. The personnel committee met Wednesday June fifteenth or am I a big mac the committee reviewed the request continuations and reports listed as items one through thirty nine on the report added twenty one through thirty six were reviewed as part of a backs because they were continuations a previously reviewed request. If there are no questions Mister chairman I move for the option of this report. Okay we've got the motion for adoption second. I have a second phone favor I. Post. Report is adopted we have now lottery oversight representative Deffenbaugh you're recognized for that report. Thank you Mr. the lottery oversight subcommittee met Wednesday June fifteenth two thousand twenty two the two thirty PM in roomy mac be subcommittee heard testimony and reviewed the following items the department of finance and administration officer of the Arkansas lottery's propose request for review of a major procurement contract. If there's no questions I move for review our Medford option. Say no questions I have a motion and a second the to set the law rooms that report on favor I. Post report is adopted Senator Blake Johnson you're recognized for Highway Commission review and advise report. How it how it Commissioner unified three consecutive met Thursday June sixteenth the subcommittee heard testimony from secretary Elizabeth Smith regarding pros recommendations from the department inspector general also internal audit concerning the annual project review inefficiency study of the Arkansas department transportation no questions were asked no changes were recommended to the parameters of the study is presented the subcommittee heard testimony from secretary Laurie tutor on June the two thousand twenty two monthly update of the A. L. C. efficiency study recommendation rules for implementation I would recommend adoption. The. I have a motion the second all in favor aye. Opposed the DVD employment benefit Division oversight report representative Ladyman you're recognized thank you Mr chair the A. L. C. employee benefits division oversight subcommittee met on Thursday may twenty that we have to meetings may twenty six your Senate subcommittee heard the following presentations consulting services contract with Segal group overview of employee handbook employee health benefits study an update on current employee benefits division the oversight subcommittee also reviewed the following employee benefits division contract amendments connect your care LLC Amendment to mainstream technologies amendment five. The subcommittee also met on Wednesday June fifteenth subcommittee approved actions of the state board of finance regarding approved plan rates for the twenty twenty three plan year and implement and implementation of a Medicare advantage plan for retirees under the state employee and public school employee plan subcommittee also reviewed the following items. E. B. R. X. UAMS Amendment five for one point two million that met impact healthcare systems incorporated amendment for two point five million. And United healthcare new contract hundred thirty seven million eight hundred fifty four thousand eight hundred dollars the subcommittee passed a motion regarding the United healthcare Medicare Medicare advantage prescription drug contract. the motion grants the authority to the ALC co chairs to review the contract between the employee benefits division and United healthcare related to the MA PD coverage for retirees upon receipt of the administrative protest determination from the office of state purchasing direct this state purchasing director if the termination is received by June thirtieth twenty twenty two the contract with United healthcare is unchanged from the contract presented to the be the subcommittee on June fifteenth. I move that we adopt the report. Okay members any questions on the report for EDT. Not seeing any have a motion and a second I have a second all in favor aye. Posed in our last committee report as occupational licensing review representative Cavenaugh you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair the occupational license review subcommittee met on Thursday June the sixteenth to hear the Arkansas department of health regarding the reporting questionnaire and with that I move with adoption of the report. I have a motion it up the report a second second on favor I. Closed members on the Other things we have the review of communications is on it requires Adoption if you've looked over those any other ones that you have questions on would be glad to take those which in your packet the otherwise I would take a motion to adopt the H. review for communications some of a motor have second own favor I. Opposed. One. Okay I do skews me members I need to do that individually for the Arkansas public employment retirement system money to us Feb motion is second I have that all in favor aye opposed and then on the Arkansas teacher retirement system motion second that motion second on Viber I. Ocean floor miss that I do see one down for Arkansas state parks any questions on that. I have a motion and I have a second favor I. Posed. I wouldn't I wouldn't look good member I've got more on here than I thought it Division of informational systems I have a motion and a second round favor I opposed to read opted and we have one interim study the representative Johnson the questions if not I have a motion before that the house insurance and commerce I have a motion the second on favor I. The Indian with. With no other business thank you for attending today we appreciate it the safe stay on the heat we're Jr.