JBC-PEER Review

Good morning everyone we're gonna go ahead get started we we got a quite a bit on the agenda this morning and we're crunched for time with J. B. C. this morning so we if we don't get completed with the agenda will have to recess and and come back so that's going to get started appreciate everyone for being here looks like we have a a quorum. Do you have any comments or anything like make okay not we'll go and get this good thing going. Thank you Mr the first section are are very separate appropriation requests is the section being he's requesting agencies to increase their spending authority above what is authorized in the appropriation bill. First item B. one is the part of agriculture it this is requests increased preparation by 500000 it is anybody will allow the department to pay a professional fees when a project is completed sooner than anticipated. The next I don't be too is a letter from the department of transportation this is requesting Peace preparation by 3000000 new spent 30 would allow the department to distribute funds collected from the natural gas severance taxes to those counties impacted by extraction that the bill shall area according to the letter production has increased leading to revenue that surpasses spending of 40. Sure those are all very some very proficient questions these are approval I don't to take a vote okay 3 questions if not I need a motion. Second. All in favor say aye any any other opposed Like sign okay the the items that approved. Thank you Mr chair next section sexy or A. R. P. request of the court into the cover letter by CFO there are 11 request agencies is being awards made directly to them from a federal office there are no request on the agenda from the A. R. P. steering committee request required by L. seat in the first one is on page 3 this is C. one it's for DHS division of county operations this is requested to spend 3.6000000 the funds of the use replace The Washington County office replace desk and chairs throughout the state and upgrade their IT infrastructure in next item is on page 6. Page 62 this items been pull baits here quest we'll skip forward to page 9. So on page 9 C. 3 the south Arkansas community college this requests for 998000 and they use these funds to recover lost revenues and purchased as taught in classrooms computer stations and exams on page 12. On page 12 and see for this issue Newport it's 42.1000000 and they would use these funds to reimburse for technology purchases indirect costs in lost revenues next item on page 14. B. 14 C. 5 this is you or 43.6000000 and these funds provide direct grants to students for emergency relief thanks I'm is on page 17. Page 17 C. 6 this is for you A. M. S. this request is for 1.4000000 and these funds be used to make emergency grants to students and pay past due student bounces next item is on page 20. On page 20 C. sevens also you M. S. this request for 5 years and 70000 and they use these funds for self testing and spit in Hispanic communities the next items on page 23. This is another U. M. S. requests for 866000 and they we use of these funds to support the U. M. as head start program next item is on page 26. Page 26 NC knives Arkansas tech university this is requested a reality previously awarded appropriation of the original speed 3 was for H. checked each check projects 13 buildings according to the letter the projects have come in under budget and they're requesting to use the savings on other or additional HX pro H. back projects identified on on the campus these items on page 28. This is C. 10 on page 28 this is the university of Arkansas community college at hope Texarkana this is another request to reallocate previously awarded appropriation they will use the same spent already in for the same purpose however the college wants to increase the maximum student emergency grant award for the spring semester and that's because it had decline enrollment so students will give more of this backs moored the next item is C. 11 this is on page 30 this is for the department of commerce Arkansas development finance authority this is requested spin 56.9000000 the funds be used to assist homeowners experiencing financial hardships through the Arkansas homeowner assistance fund program I'm sure those are all the A. R. P. requests okay thank you are there any questions. If not a motion to approve. The motion as second. All in favor say aye any both let the the sent approved. Thank you Mr chairman section the now this the shared services request. Special language allows cabinet level departments transfer appropriation and positions to a shared services section to enjoy efficiencies department wide the Department apart the Department of Parks here using towards the request transfer in the appropriation associate with the Levin positions from the parks and tourism tourism divisions to their shared services section I spoke with the Department learn the positions like production artists media specialist and travel writers will set up a public relations function in their shared services to serve all divisions of the department the table on page 3 of section the shows a transfer of the 231000 appropriation to shared services section. The questions. The question. 60. Okay. Maybe for the thank you Mr for staffers the transfer of positions that it result in an increase in pay salaries or did they transfer over at the same pace salary they had one before. I don't have any knowledge of any increases but I'd have to refer to the department to answer that fully. Would you which which one of the 3 we and again is it a or which one is. We're in section the shared services thank you. Please recognize yourself for the record. Good morning I'm set the item that the chief fiscal officer for Department of Parks heritage and tourism. When I was like a scan chief of legislative affairs for parks and you're recognized. You want my question over here too far left. Okay thank you did this result in an increase in salaries by moving from one of the Division over to shared services no Sir there were no increases the salaries were just moving the positions over at their current rate of pay no increase in salaries and no change in the appropriation just readjusting where we're spending it and how many additional agencies will they be able to serve by moving over to the shared service division or are they gonna be exclusive to the one where they came from or where they be opened up and available to others hello the current plan is that they will be open up and available across the agency we have a new chief of communications director and he is currently working on a model that will allow all the positions to share and work across all of our agents okay and will those be charged back to the agency that there. Yes there's going to be providing services to yes as part of a cost allocation model we will we will charge those charges back to reflect the agency said that they did the work for yes and and then the last thing is this the rate that they're gonna be charged back to the agency's refresh my memory how that is established if you're gonna be charging you movement shared services not gonna be charging back to the agency that they are providing the services for what what's the mathematics or what's the rate that you're going to be charging back to the agency that will say that agency money that you're your partner from well currently we're working on our allocation models and we will build a model that will reflect how the work is done for each one of the sections and will pull data from my systems and based on the the work that is done we'll create a calculation of the percentage and then we will look at each one of the sections and determine how much was spent and how much work was done for each one of the groups and what of what the cost is and then that costs will be allocated based on the actual costs for this year's services section but that models not built as of right now for this particular group is not built right now because they're still working on how they're going to work how they're going to to how they're going to be operating and so once we know how they're going to operate what is a myth of operation then we will use that app that method to develop a model to see what is it you're doing each group and we capture the work that you do if the school will be able to tell how much you did for this section versus another section and will capture the actual cost of the communications section and allocate that based on the percentage that they did it for other groups okay thank you I'd like to see that model if you'll send it to me please thank you thank you Mr thank you any other questions. Thank you thank you for the. No no no other questions of these these I'd sent a crew. Thank you Mr chairman section email these are the cash property increase request we're now and Review items. Casual requests are requesting agencies to increase spending 34 line items are supported by cash fund account the first item you want he's means a letter from the department of corrections division of corrections this is requests increase preparation by 37000 and it's been 30 is needed to replace a fire truck. The next item is a letter from the department health this is the 2 this is for the dietetics licensing board it's requests increase appropriation by 11000 you spent 30 will allow the board to pay for board member travel expenses moving expenses relate to relocate for office a new computer and to implement an online licensure system the next item E. 3 this is on page 4 this is for national park college it's requests increase appropriation by 2.2 5000000 the letter notes the spinning forties needed for additional auxiliary services and because appropriation was drawn down due to incorrect classification of federal relief expenses in the state account system. Sure those are all the cash requests. Any questions. Not the the sent approved. Of reviewed I thought thank you besides interview. They may share in section F. now this is our budget classification transfers these request agencies to make a transfer among the 5 sub items of means and Gen Operation others only one item on the agenda is for the department of commerce Arkansas development finance authority its request to transfer 40000 from professional fees to operate expenses according to the request to transfer is needed due to an increase in costs in fiscal year 22 and this is a review I don't. Any questions but not the that member of a stand ready. I thank you Mr chairman the next section section Jean these are Muslims federal grant requests. And these request agencies to increase spending authority on federal funds resulting from an anticipated federal grant award a G. ones for the department agriculture it's request for 33000 and a grant from USDA to enhance competitiveness of specialty crops is items hundreds in federally funded. Next item number 2 this is department of commerce Arkansas development finance authority it's request for 4.1000000 appropriation they have a grant from HUD to construct rental housing for extremely low income our Kansans is also hundreds of fairly funded. Next item number 3 is DHS division of county operations it's request for 1.3000000 they have a grant from USDA to increase the likelihood persons once that make healthy food choices it's 100 and fairly funded. G. 4 is again DHS division coming operations it's request for 271000 they have a grant for the office of refugee set up a refugee resettlement to help the 60 Afghans in ref refugees Arkansas will receive to integrate into the state this item is 100 and fairly funded. Next item number actually next to request G. 5 and G. 6 R. for teachers Division of County operations request G. 5 is for 13000 and G. 6 for 26000 both are grants from USDA to do without reaching areas identified as low stat participation of the items required 50 percent match. The next item was given for us given to Page 8 which is item 7 and the next 3 requests are for DHS that employment training so G. sevens for 1.1000000 G. 8 is 474 1000 MG 9 for 1000000 all or grants from the USDA to provide employment training services and to promote self sufficiency the last 2 are matched with third party provider funds and with state general revenue. Scenario skip ahead to. Number 10 this is G. 10 department of public safety Arkansas state crime lab it's request for 2 engine 45000 they have a grant from the U. S. department of justice to renovate their forensic chemistry section and provide professional development opportunities it's under centrally funded next items you Levin's again Arkansas state crime lab it's request for engine 28000 they have another grant from the DOJ to process more DNA samples and remove backlogs it also helps in fairly funded. Number 12 is a third one for Arkansas state crime lab it's requests for 9600 and a grant from the national highway traffic safety administration to send toxicologist for training to improve reporting a crash samples this items Hudson federally funded. G. 13 is Arkansas state police it's request for 35000 this is another grand for the national highway traffic safety administration and this one 's for law enforcement training it's 100 and fairly funded. Next item G. 14 is the department of commerce Arkansas Economic Development Commission this request for 8.9000000 they have a grant from HUD to assist recovery into mitigation from disasters occurred in 2017 through 2019 primarily by addressing unmet housing needs this item is 100 and fairly funded sure those are all the amenities and this is a review of these are you items okay thank you are there any questions. Okay it's not the the absent reviewed. Thank you Mr chairman section H. now these are PAYPLAN request there are 2 requests for people information totaling 14800 the security department request 11000 extra help and education television request 3800 XL to covering crease use of parts until engineers is our review of items. Any questions. Not the the absent review. You Mr chairman section I know this is of this request for a method of finance amended finances requests over 250000 from an agency to build I'm sorry to buy land or build buildings and the project is that already been reviewed by the legislature this first one the only ones issue mid south AS Pfenex aviation is the main expansion project to increase accessibility and accommodate growth in the program enrollment the cost will be a little over 1000000 in the project is funded from millage and federal grant funds. Any questions. As I understand review. Next section section jade is begin the discretionary grants these are grants over 10000 recipients not specified legislation and they require prior review before awarding the contract the Arkansas department health has for grant awards on the agenda the first one is Westbrook communication is 244000 it's an original grant this is to develop culturally and linguistically responsive COVID 19 prevention communication to identify and address current gas and factors related health disparities it's 100 fairly funded the next item is number 2 sounds starts Arkansas hands of voices it's an amendment added 61000 this is to continue to further the infinitary program and securing appropriate fall of services for children next item number 3 is for our care it's an amendment as 2.4000000 and this one is to continue to provide quarterly to cool in support services for HIV infected individuals for the Ryan white part B. services access center program the last item on the before it's for future builders it's a 50000 regional grant this is to continue its the it's your choice program that focuses on making existing prevention and treatment methods more far reaching by expanding services to rural communities and this is also an active really funded and those at the end of discussion discretionary grants. I have a question that would question. Who will represent. Fortner. One yeah he's got a okay. Thank you Mr you're recognized I'd like could I go back to G. 4 I'm a little slow. Thank you. Okay. G. 4 okay yeah. Please recognize the record thank you Sir Clark what origin services good morning Mary Franklin director Division of County operations okay you're recognized what's your question hello here up thank you Mr chairman thank you this up money that were given it says cash what what is that for or is it literally we gonna handle cash okay we do provide it's as federal program provides cash assistance to individuals who are we look at Arkansas through the federal refugee programs it's cash benefit of a believe about $80 a month which they can receive for up to believe 6 months 8 months from the day they enter the country to see $8 a month that 80 dollars eighty is. Okay. All right thank you. Thank you thank you. In other questions. 60 okay. Senator Hammer you're recognized thank you you said the re located could you tell me where the relocated from place. Sorry individuals for the refugee program could be for any number of countries there's there's 2 sides of this there's the one that we were more directly with the feds in which there are individuals from a variety of countries who applied commuters refugees that are resettled in the recital throughout the state there are a couple profit organizations that actually work with those individuals to help place them a space between that prioritization and there were federal government on where those individuals placed. Under the are they coming from are they coming from the southern border. Do you know. Not that I know of I mean it's it's it's also amendment may come from central or South America I think most the ones I've seen recently have tended to be from. Let's see here. We've got the others some from Democratic Republic of Congo mine mark what Amala for one to one from Iran some from Syria so it's just an all around okay and it's all federal money right yes Sir could I get to do you know how many there are in the in the state please. And you said $80 a month right. In 2021 we had a total of 200 28 individuals and that's higher than normal and now so I did finish my thought earlier the federal government has been placing some refugees from Afghanistan directly which doesn't although they've that kept us in the loop that's not some of the some within our control that's accounts for the higher number 2021 and so forth so far this year we've had 54 individuals place okay but the television 221 U. SEC amenity serves up to 228 last year to 20 are thank you they Mr thank you any other questions. Not the the stand review thank you. Okay. I'm sorry Senator Ingram John this on another matter I I just mark where we on the utility and rent assistance of the when we required the check to be sent to the you know it made out tool sure so right now applications are on hold however we still have the applications that already been submitted that will continue to work through as of yesterday I think the total paid was about $81000000 81.6000000 paid out to individuals we are sending out the rent checks now able to both tenant and landlord okay so so it's flowing the money is for okay I guess my question thank you I thank the government of questions from senator Hammer you're recognized. That thank you Mr following up on that the there were landlords who were not paid because the money went to the tenant and the tenant got the money to spend it somewhere else and I think that has come out in the last month and several meetings those landlords that did not get that money that did everything they were supposed to but because of system failures that money went to the tenant or those landlords first in line to receive the money or how are you addressing that situation. We continue to work through that we've identified as either your 2 or 3 situations in which that was the landlord it appears to have happened working with vendors to get the timeline see what happened when what kind what steps lead more to it was just a tenant to we've been talking with the US treasury department about how much flexibility we have there that's still of the fluid situation we're still working through that okay well I just want voice my opinion that for those landlords it did what they were supposed to do but because of system structure those payments went out to those tenants and I think the team was like $27000000 a child identified that fit that category of my right or wrong when that are sheer shepherded NO behind you. Not not 27000000. Smaller amount than that that we're landlord to raise their hand and said the tenant did not pay us okay. I just wanna hear month here's my want my want is that those landlords get taken care of they did everything right but the tenant took money and did everything wrong I wanna make sure those landlords get taken care of before all that money gets exhausting goes out the door because they got leapfrogged over and that's that's not fair to them and then you go after the tenet said fraudulently took money and do what's or what whatever you can do that be my request if you would you agree thank you I certainly understand that and we're looking to see just how much flexibility we've got there to okay to make things right well if we do some help you greater flexibility let us know because would like to see it done thank you. There's no more questions of these items and reviewed thank you. And the share inspection Kay now these are service contracts. So the first pages letter from the O. S. P. director Mitch rouse noting that the context any criteria for legislative you are provided and don't they all appear on their face not to have been procured in violation of law there is one contract on page 7 it's contract number 9 on the page for DHS that had 2 bidders protests but neither of these protests were sustains. Those protests Arkansas had been provided staff prior to meeting up with that when I get to the item. The next pages K. one these are construction of any contracts for architects engineers engineering and commissioning services number one is a DHS original contract for design services for the human development centers medical facilities this is for 1.3000000 number 2 is you 8 you a favor original contract for architectural services for the north east rice research and extension center in Harrisburg that's for 780500 number 3 is you a Fort Smith it's an amendment for completion of the wheel off house restoration project adds 39006 engine 4 to the project. And I'm sure those are the end of the construction related contracts. With questions the Senator Hammer you're recognized thank you Mr did what what number did you say was protested by 2 vendors number 9 at. It's on page 7 number 9 is in a different section and we get that item appointed out. And did you say that the. The date the date appealed and exhausted it to the full capability and. Correct the the protests were not sustained. Okay all right thank you. Okay with any objection to that and stand review. Thank you Mr on K. 2 now these are in a government contracts which are contracts between state agencies there's only 1 item on the agenda is can you correction original contract for validation of the Arkansas offender risk assessment for 7070 5000 500 this is a review I don't. For any questions okay okay Senator Elliot you're recognized. I I guess I need to talk to I need somebody from. Department of correction community correction thanks to everyone from a. Arkansas community correction. Please recognize yourself for the record please. Wimley to finance officer. Laura Johnson interim procurement administrator you're recognized thank you Mr I just wanted to get a a quick correction what we mean by what they're actually doing with the validation if you know of what's involved in that process. Well the information I have is is actually a study they're going to do a study on 5 areas of miss risk assessment intake reassessment pre release and prison release. We are we are doing an assessment of the 5 a roared tools it It should I interpret that to mean that we're going to look that we're hiring somebody to look at their these tools to see if they're still relevant and valid and actually of good use to us yes and if you don't know the answer this question if you will get somebody give me the answer okay to what extent are we looking at these tools in a way that we know they're culturally relevant and that they are age appropriate and that kind of thing I just like to talk to somebody about that and it doesn't have to be here okay just have somebody get in contact with that be sufficient okay okay we'll get that information right thank you Mr chair. Or any other questions. Thank you. Not the the without any objection these items stand reviewed. Thank you Mr wrong K. 3 now these are out of state contracts number one it's heritage it has an original contract for refurbishing of the night gallery historic Arkansas museum to design install displays for 90500 number 2 the issue port it has original contract for website to redesign project 413000 number 3 is transformation share services they have an original contract for surplus management implementation solution for marketing redistribution yeah this is for 452000 number 4 is the if a child support enforcement they have a contract amendment for paternity tests for custodial and noncustodial parents for 359000 for the next page number 5 if the management has an amendment for evaluation opioid and substance abuse like a services is for 120000 number 6 is disability determination they have an original contract for a medical consultant to review and evaluate claims for 291000 number 7 is education they have an original contract for maintenance and support for the I'm sorry of the Arkansas educare licensor System hi this is for 2 to 64000. Page is number 8 number is employed by a 2 year quest for the health department the risk of over that's number 9 adidas has an original contact with red meat technology for development implementation and maintenance of the do comprehensive child welfare system for over 10.$8000000 the 20000000 this is a contracted was reference to the letter from those P. director Mitch rouse 2 bidders protested but neither the protests were sustained number 10 D. just as an amendment for 350 2004 in home services for children and family services US family services clients next page is number 11 this is number 11 C. Justin has the member for 1.6 5000000 for nursing staff at all 5 human development centers number 12 the state police they have an original contract for 50 4000 for installation of equipment and patrol Dodge Chargers to be used for public safety operations numbers 1314 and 15 are all you are original contracts for temporary staffing services in our 200000 each of Reagan skip the page 6. On page 6 is number 16 this is for you a PD they have an original contract for education networking America for web conferencing solution for a Wisconsin solution for 294000 and cities are all the in this is the end of the I was a contract. Any questions. With that okay we'll question. Yes. Senator Hammer thank you could we get to. Human Services for number 11 to the table please. The resident recognition of the thank Mister mark white running department Human Services you're recognized thank you how are you going to what's the strategy to get the certified nursing assistants given the competitive market check out there and how are you going to use this money to actually get the job done harm to. Well we're certainly will continue to try and hire as many seen as we can no we build to offer some pay increases other incentives to help the good folks in the door with the same time we also have to use outside contract agencies to fill in gaps where needed and so this is with we have several providers working with to get those contract in the contract labour in this weather vendors this been more successful than others and getting us more folks and because we've used up more of their past so for that's what we're trying to add some additional capacity to this contract now and all of the stories here's all of her all deferred her on anything I've misstated there again okay. The I know she got out of state company doing this did you solicit or were there any in state companies that bid on this contract to get the services provided we we have obtains number ways including for existing state contracts bottom line we've open the door what we're looking for everyone we can find a provider contract labours we've got in state companies doing that we got out of state companies to and the folks are to be hired for this are they gonna be higher than on a traveling certified nursing assistant arrangement or they can be permanent placement employees. I'm sorry Melissa whether 10 director for development disabilities services 600. What they've been doing is coming in and for example like if they can Arkadelphia they send down CNA's that stay down there for 5 days at a time so they could be from from out of the state but they're coming in for blocks of time at the centers when we need help in like mark said we have a lot of these contracts in place but we're not paying on them we only pay when they produce staff in this particular company has been our most successful at certain centers I guess based on the areas of the state and so I know in particular Arkadelphia were highly using this contract okay so we're going to face. We're we're we're gonna face critical situation still down the road if these are contract individuals are just here for a short period of time somewhere down the road we're still gonna have to fill those voids so I think that we are getting much better on hiring and full time employees at the state for our centers based on some of the things we've been doing over the last couple of years on setting up the CNA's changing the pay scale adding the ability to to work overtime and be paid for it for multiple positions beyond CNA's and so we're seeing a decline but we still have a great need and I would say especially for and LPNs and registered nursing we're still or still struggling to hire those those clinicians full time all right thank you thank Mr. Thank you. I sent a written fall Fortner Fortner you're recognized thank you Mr chairman of number 3 the Department of transmitter Education. Nation and shared services. Please recognize yourself and for the record please. And the Federal Secretary transformation shared services had a ship of chief fiscal officer transformation church service. You're recognized here. Could you help me understand this it says of for surplus management implementation solutions are you getting rid of stuff or are they showing you how to use your extra. And this software would be a a software that would run the business of admin or they currently use asus asus is not set up to do more of a retail business which really is what in our is you know they take in surplus goods from this state things that an agency no longer needs and then they re distribute those out either to state agencies to the public today's Wednesday and they'll be having the public in there today all I'm also to nonprofits are also able to come in and do that so they have to do invoices just like you would do in any business I have accounts receivable just as you would have in any business and it's very difficult for them to utilize basis only several years ago before a transformation there was an in depth review of the processes at in our and several deficiencies were highlighted and the software is away to help resolve many of those issues so they have good ways to account for their business processes. Well I guess it just seems like 0.$5000000 to. Tell someone how to get rid of good stuff I do it for that and I live here I can tell you how to get rid of that stuff that that is over 4 years I think the total amount there's over 5 years there's an optional fifth year so the first year cost is around 250000 that's to implement it yes of course a cloud solution so as most softwares are now it's not on you know on residences in the cloud you don't buy the software you're leasing it as most things are and so there's a yearly cost to keep that up that we've investigated many. Of surplus thanks there's only about 3 out there this one was the most reputable and is used by most several other states and I don't have that list of states but I do know that Kansas and Alaska are 2 of them that use it. It's just a really a. Question of being able to. Successfully and transparently so the business processes they're at very difficult we can't do an ice analysis report out of asus because in our is looped in with several other business areas and so ISIS wants to give you all of those business areas instead of just one segment of those it's it's just a question of making it a better business process for the state. Follow. Yes you're recognized. So this isn't too. Generate.