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- October 2, 2026
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
0:57
Members if you can go ahead and take your seats we're gonna get started with
that chair sees a quorum we'll do this as before we're gonna go through all of the items in a section then I'll come back one by one and if there's questions that is when you'll hit your mic for instance if you have a question on B3 hit your mic on B3 don't don't hit it on B1, hit it on B3. but with that Billy go ahead and kick us off item B1. thank
William Parrish
Unverified
1:24
you Miss Sher we're in section B. these are various temporary appropriation requests
item B1 is a letter from the department of
Chair
Unverified
1:31
healthalth minority healthalth Commission is for 100,000 spending authority. This is to support the second year launch of the food desert elimination program. The letter says the program will use tobacco settlement funds to make 10 reimbursable grants of $10,000 each. B2 is a letter from the department of healthalth minority Health missions for 150,000. it's to support the second year launch of the paternal healthalth outreach and education programme that's a collaborative that partners with the New York Institute of Technology College of
Osteopathic Medicine. This program is also supported by tobacco settlement funds. B3 is a letter from auditor of states for 20,000 in appropriation. This is to reimburse and cover future costs for integrating with the state's new software accounting system it's supported by a state central services. B4 is a letter from the department of Education division of higherducation for7 million dollars in appropriation. This is to fulfill scholarship needs for the Arkansas Future grants programme. it's supported by Fundals B5 is a letter from public safety division of state Police
is for560,000 in appropriation this is to replace live scans and accessories used for automated fingerprinting. it's supported by fees generated from criminal history searches. B6 is a letter from public safety emergency management for 210,000 and uhiningity. This is to cover increased maintenance contract costs and to reign the coding of existing grant funded travel needs for the division it's supported by both general and federal revenues. B7 is a letter from the department of healthalth's for500,000. It's to establish a construction line
item to do land acquisition, facility renovations, structural improvements and new construction projects it's supported primarily by vital records fees. B8 is a letter from DFfa revenue divisions for 10 million. This is to cover implementation and increase contract costs to issue physical driver's licenses. this will help modernize their credentialing systems and supported by license fees search fees and title fees. Mr chairir, those are all the various temporary appropriation requests. right thank you
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
3:30
members do we have any questions on B1
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
3:52
seeing no questions what's the will of the committee? I've got a motion to approve items B1 through 8 I've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all in
favor signify by saying aye all those opposed
Speaker 10
4:09
motion carries sectionc. Thank you Mr Sher in Section C these are the infrastructure investment
Chair
Unverified
4:13
and jobs actct appropriation requests C1 is from Department of Public Safety division of emergency Management for3,60,000 the spending authority. they have a grant from FEA for the building resilient infrastructure and communities grant programme that's to do hazard mitigation activities this is an update to to an award that provides more funds for sub grants and admin costs.
C2 is public safety division of emergency Management368,000. they have a grant from the US Department of Transportation for the hazardous materials emergency preparedness grant program. This is to protect against the risks that are inherent in transporting hazardous materials. a word will be used for personnel and operating costs including training and making sub grants. C3 is public safety emergency management 8 million in appropriation. they have a grant from FEA for the predisaster mitigation programme that's to reduce risk from natural hazards
and to reduce reliance on federal funding and future disasters. Mr chairir that's all the IIJA requests all right thank
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
5:12
you members any questions onc1? Senator hickey C1 you're recognized for a question hold on just a second I'm There we go thank you Mr chairir just one question a member
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
5:24
had asked me that couldn't be here today and they wanted me to ask the question they wanted to they wanted to make sure or or at least have knowledge if any of these monies were going to be
used in any way that would affect the federal surplus mon program that was out there because they thought that the first one I believe might be tied to it and they just wanted to get acknowledgement of whether that was or was not that so I don't know if the staff can do
it or agency can just could come down and answer that one question right looks like we have some money
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
5:59
if you could just recognize yourself for the committee and if you can senator hickey if you can just restate your question to make sure
Speaker 21
6:13
Good morning AJ Gary, director of the Arkansas division of emergency Management and so to answer your question is this does not have anything to do with federal surplus property it's a mitigation federal grant program they just wanted to make sure that it didn't
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
6:24
tie back in any way shape or fashion and I had told them that I would ask that question for them since they couldn't be here.
Speaker 13
6:31
thank you sir thank you thank you sir. all right do we
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
6:35
have any p re s ent ative ladyman holdld on I'm gonna I'll get the hang of it again after a couple of months there we go
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
6:44
you recognized thank you chairman yeah I need to have him back down there I guess got a question the agency
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
7:03
he's said in your you're already recognized andpresentative you're recognized to ask your
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
7:09
question thank you Mr Chairman. I was reading the details here on this grant and it says it does so
with the recognition of the growing hazards associated with climate change how are we using this money to combat climate change? So and I apologize is this still the the building resilient infrastructure of the brick grant I think it is C1 are we on C1? I just wanted to make sure it was the it was the right one so this is
Speaker 35
7:36
a and I'm gonna ask one of our mitigation people to come up to to to help out on this but this is a let me let me
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
7:45
let me rephrase my question. I apologize for asking it that way what will this money be actually used for and I know it may be be he. so what things would this be used for because when they reference climate change you know I would like to know the details on what we plan on using this money for all right if you could just recognize yourself for the committee
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
8:09
and you're welcome to answer. Hi Jody Lee deputy
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
8:12
director of recovery and mitigation with the Arkansas division of emergency Management
the primary purpose of these grants are to mitigate past and future disasters so flooding is what it's a federal grant FEMA ties flooding to climate change so you're raising bridges raising elevating roads things like that or what would primarily tie it to climate change communication it could also be
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
8:45
used in response to tornadoes and those
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
8:49
kind of events is that true or it's this this grant in particular is not used in response to tornadoes this would be for future planning pla mitigation plans, future infrastructure possible infrastructure damages in
Speaker 43
9:06
the event upgrading things that could be damaged in the
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
9:13
future so it could be used proactively to anticipate major problems
you might do the infrastructure where those problems could be
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
9:23
abated. Yes, yes and also could be used for safe rooms, public safe rooms too that that do go back to tornado safety. right
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
9:31
thank you members do we have any other questions all right seeing no
other questions what's the will of the committee got a motion to approve item C1 through3. I've got a second any discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all the supposed
Chair
Unverified
9:50
motion carries d Thank you Mr Chair we're in section d this is a restrict reserve fund transfer requests. this letter is from the department of Energy and Environment Divisionnvironmental Quality. it's a $2.5 million transfer from the various general discretionary majority votes set aside account within the fund c according to the letter these funds would support used tire program reimbursements and other costs associated with the used tire program for the committee's information the statewide accounting system shows the programme's revenue is
relatively flat and expenses are climbing and that is eating into the program's fund balance. The balance was3.4 million dollars at the end of fiscal year 24. The balance is 894,000 at the end of last month. the agency confirms it is a pattern it is it is in a pattern of deficit spending on the program and they point to a special report from legislative audit in January of 2023 that describes the imbalance in more detail. The department cites hikes in inflation, fuel prices, machinery and equipment scarcity of parts for maintenance and
repairs and labor shortages resulting in the climbing program expenses ALC approved a $1 million transfer inoctober 2022. That was the last time I faced a deficit. thank you go ahead and have somebody come up I
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
11:02
know we're gonna have at least a couple of questions and if you could just go ahead and recognize
yourself for the committee and then I'm going to recognize senator hickey Lauren Ballard, chief of staff department of Energy andnvironment.
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
11:22
Bailey Taylor, chief administrator ofnvironment and DEQrector. thank you Senator
Chair
Unverified
11:26
hickey you are recognized thank you senator Dismay. I'm up here
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
11:30
to y'all's left so I guess the thing is is is you all are presenting this as an deal for the overall program for the state how I've I've received some calls on this and I'm just gonna tell you what I've been told because I want to drill down into the specifics a little bit more. So what I've been to is that I believe in district4 that the
that they just quit shredding tires completely over in that district is that is that true? Yes sir their
Speaker 54
12:02
processors shut down and so they've been in the process of contracting a new one going through procurement trying to find someone
Speaker 57
12:07
else to take their tires. there've been some other districts that have chipped in where they can and and pick up those tires to to prevent them from piling up. OK well I'm just gonna I'm going to
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
12:19
tell you what I was told and then you can just tell me if
that's true or not true and Mr cheer up may need just a little bit of latitude with that So then as what you said you said that they were going to the procurement process but prior to that I was told that that board actually went out and hired or attempted to hire somebody else without doing bids and that they were going
to do a around5 dollars a tire and that they that they were just going to pay are you familiar with that? it's
Speaker 57
12:51
my understanding that they had gone through emergency
county procurement to find a new processor and they had been utilizing that processor while receiving their previous rate of 292. so hired whenever Jefferson County was processing their or the rate that they had established whenever their local processor was processing their tires. Then they submitted a revised business plan we asked them to go through procurement to try to see if there was a competitive bid that would reduce that price because yes they're they're existing
business plan request was for505 attire we countered with a a little bit of a lower number and ask them to go through procurement that business plan was never instituted they went through procurement. we received a revised business plan with a lower number and a different processor. it's our understanding that they're still going through that process and so we're anticipating a yet another revised plan so the the after they did the
Speaker 63
13:52
procurement it was my understanding which they were
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
13:58
doing part of the work in that particular district anyway was Davis Tyre out of LittleRock. is that correct? What did they bid at what what was their bid
per tire after they went through the procurement process they did win
that is that correct? don't have any knowledge of who won the contract. I don't believe
Speaker 57
14:18
it's final yet so they did represent that that is the bid that they were going with and I don't recall the specific number per tire but I can tell
you what they reimbursement rate was going to be that includes their admin costs and other transportation not just
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
14:35
be my next question so how much how much how much was Davis you so you don't know what their bid was?
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
14:45
have been told that and I don't have the exact number that that was somewhere because this is going to be part of my next question is that it
was somewhere around a buck 97 to250 or something like that per tire
Their overall request was425 per tire that but that but that includes that's what the county's put in and that's where I'm heading. that's why I'm
asking that we need to know how much that Davis is doing because of and umm I hate to do this but just making it up, especially in this meeting, but I'm going to use a round number. So if Davis
only bid2 dollars a tire and they're going to to get those tires and do them for two. my question is is why are we going to be paying for something a tire
because we're going to be paying some monstrous amount for administrative and it none of this
Speaker 57
15:40
is adding up to me they do break down their business plan, you know this is what the processor's charging this is what the transporter's charging and then here's our admin and soutTpfo has one of the lowest I believe it's the
Speaker 60
15:52
second lowest admin cost in the state overall cost though most
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
15:56
of them round numbers are going to be either a little less or a little more than $2 per tire
Speaker 76
16:07
is that correct? The22 is the highest 290,286,280. those are the the are those
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
16:12
are the three right now and we're talking about4 something on this on this next one. OK? Another thing I'm gonna ask is those tires that are stacked up over there when that was not done are we 100% sure that that somebody is not already received money on
those tires we do think that they probably
Speaker 57
16:37
have and therefore we will not repay for someone to pick those tires up there's currently a proposed enforcement action for the for the processor facility to clean that up themselves since they'd already been paid to do so so what if they don't how many
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
16:51
tires are we talking about and I round number because I've heard that it's a huge stale. It's massive yeah thousands tens of
Speaker 81
16:57
thousands so you're telling me that that's going to be on the district
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
17:01
to do on their own so they've already s the the facility
but they've already received the funds we've
Speaker 72
17:11
already reimbursed for that work so they should have received the funds I just this
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
17:17
whole thing's a I just don't know about it. and I understand and I'm not this is not really anything that's directed at you all but if we if we've got a facility and a district over there that I hate to say mismanagement but I don't know what else to call it. If they've missedmanagement, mismanaged it
and there's a possibility that they've received funds and didn't do the work I'm not for sure that we don't need to have leg audit or some other entity to look into that to make to see what's going on and to see where those funds went before we go forward with the funding the rest of this and I know we've got an issue with these tires stacking up, but I'm not for sure if we could do something different and just you know, allow Davisyre or something to go get those tires
and we only pay whatever thats lesser number is. I just don't understand it understand throwing another buck52 dollars per tire towards some towards the facility with this history that I'm hearing about right here so that request
Speaker 57
18:25
is not currently ready to be submitted or reviewed yet but if we fund if we fund
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
18:31
this restricted reserve transfer this is the funds that you were going to use to do that correct that
and the other three districts that are currently over the 231 per tire and I guess Mrir
that's my that's my issue right here is if we've got the
other districts you know maybe maybe that's OK, but I'm just, I'm just personally not willing to put money towards this other district until we get some clarification on what's been what's happened and that there's not more to the story with these maybe getting paid in these tires that are as you called it massive which is the num I've heard that
it's a huge amount of tires over there and that that district and the citizens there are going to be waiting for
that to get cleaned up and it never gets cleaned up. so currently UTporces reimbursement rate is 290. so with this request for the restricted re reserve transfer they can only be reimbursed 290 until we come before you with a different request. and senator, I did It want to
Speaker 86
19:36
clarify that too certainly they would they would have to submit a revised business plan with all
those variables explained that you've been asking questions about and that would come through us and then it would actually go for review by a full Alc before that would
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
19:53
become effective. I guess that's where I'm still struggling even even if it's 290. if they've been paid
for some other tires at 290 I don't know that I'm I'm personally willing to go forward until we get some clarification on this it just it doesn't add up to me that if we think that there's a possibility that there may be a you know some mismanagement
why we're going to continue to go forward with this I just I don't know if we can go a different route you know for a short term and maybe just use the you know the processor if Davis has got the low bid or whatever if we can just use those and
pay them their number without paying that additional money because we may have to use that additional money to go to go clean up those tires in that district. So Mr Chair, I'll, I'll, I think I've said
Chair
Unverified
20:39
all I need to say. Thank you all right Representativeladyman you're recognized for a question
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
20:49
thank you Mr Chairman. my question is about where that money is coming from I mean why are we taking this from restricted reserve I mean I thought that was money you know when I asked for money from that they say well that's you you you can't really get that for operating that's for disasters or whatever. so why are we going to restricted reserve and instead of somewhere in the budget or the surplus why are we using restricted
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
21:20
funds for an operating problem it's probably a DFfa response I would think there was a I mean a little bit of background I would say there was an agreement to do what we needed to do to keep the districts afloat while they're still trying to develop a plan. I know that there are numerous members in the the room that are engaged in that but again this is to keep operations going until whatever is developed is developed and
then when we were in session we specifically set aside money to
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
21:50
be able to accomplish that set aside where where is it restricted reserve account what's that where's that document that says we voted on that I mean what I'm asking is you know guys and there's people in this room that talked about this. there's also people in this room that have not talked about this OK so I mean a
back room talk is not us voting on something. I can't say what you do or what
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
22:21
your members do when we're discussing the budget and the bills that do detail outline how we do these things but you can say
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
22:25
what you're talking about in the back room you just said that you said there are members in here that have decided what I didn't say anything about a
back room. you said never never mind my insinuation was and
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
22:38
I think it's one that's correct is the members that want to be engaged in this issue or engaged in this issue and if sir if you choose to be engaged in this issue or you are welcome to be engaged in this issue there is no one preventing anyone from being engaged in the
discussion on what to do with waste tires and I would also say I think anybody would want all of the support and help or new ideas
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
23:00
they could in relation to trying to get to a solution on this issue now I promise
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
23:06
you will not be prevented from being engaged. well my question is I don't see this as being something that restricted funds should be used for because it's it's operations I I don't know why we don't look at other places in the budget you know we
have a surplus that we could use for this why are we going to restricted funds which are supposed to be there for things that we can't fund in the regular budget that's my question I don't know who can answer that but
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
23:35
I I feel like I I mean as far as what I understand I think I've answered about as well as I can that my the the the belief is that there is a solution that needs to be reached that but there does need to be a temporary bridge until we get there instead of putting more money into RSA and increasing
the base this was a way to bridge that gap and if someone disagrees with that then from DFA or elsewhere or hassmore that they can enlighten with it I'd be I would welcome
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
24:03
any other information. I think I agree withenator Hickey that you know we we need more discussion on this before we pass it but thank you Mr Chairman. thank
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
24:11
you all right Senator Irvin and Representative mean Senator Love can you hit yours again I accidentally clicked you off senator irvin you're recognized
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
24:27
Thank you Mr Chair. hi thank you. Which which is the district so the 2.5
million is for all four there's four districts is that correct? kind of need a whiteboard here. OK so we have4 districts one is where we have this problem is that correct 4
Speaker 57
24:44
is what Senator hickey was talking about District4 0 district the southeast quadrants of the state so but there's four total one which is
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
24:58
southeast is where the issue is where the tires are being stacked up and it's just not being picked up and when we when we go through the plan so what there could have possibly been you're saying we we have reimbursed them we've given them money but they have not used that money towards mitigating for the tires. Is that correct?ect OK. do you have the ability with this two point do you legally have the ability to move forward with the other
three districts and to do something different with this district.
Speaker 69
25:33
So this district's current plan is for 290. so they they don't yet have a
Speaker 57
25:39
complete plan to increase that or use a different hauler with a different rate. However, what we are doing separate and apart from this is the facility that stockpiled those processed tires that we reimbursed for the processing we are enforcing them to clean up and mitigate as they said they had done
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
26:00
and will do and how are
Speaker 57
26:02
we enforcing that through a consent administrative order where're currently working out the that consent and those agreements with them to try to get them to to clean it up and we're working with them with options we would rather handle this separately than change what their reimbursement is you know, without them submitting their own plan. OK, do we run the risk
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
26:26
or is there any language that's included when you if we move
forward with this 2.5 million with this one district is there any language included that says so this
Speaker 60
26:38
district is no longer using the facility that caused the stockpile. OK they're going to
Speaker 57
26:44
use a different facility and they have been for about a year using a different processor so that tires are not continuing to stockpile. so reimbursing then the 290 or whatever it is their new request is has they've been able to operate the district is separate from the facility that is
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
27:03
stockpiling. They contracted the facility that stockpiled but there's are
we including any language in this that says you will not give money to this facility that is under enforcement. we don't have that included in
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
27:14
this plan. I don't know if that's something we can well but it would be if they if they wanted to amend
Speaker 86
27:20
their business plan to say like they would have to provide us a business plan saying we are going to use this processor so we would have the right to approve or or give them feedback on that so if they submitted a plan saying they were going to go back to this
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
27:34
processor who's creating such a problem ok I understand you're trying to be responsive to what they're going to submit my question is you need to be directive and say you will not use this money towards this facility that is under enforcement action by the state of Arkansas. do you have the ability to do that yes or no? because that's the problem we're giving a district money that was spent using that was
spent at a facility that is now currently under an enforcement action by the depar the department and the state of Arkansas we feel uncomfortable giving money to that district and then repeating the same behavior and is there any way I understand you're being responsive to their business plans they're submitting. I'm not sure if that's working. it's not working with this. do you have that ability to be
directive that says we will not allow this money to be spent with this facility that's under enforcement. I
Speaker 57
28:42
think I think that is something we can direct them you know, state to them and let them know document that in some fashion and we always check the manifest where were the tires processed where were they sent so we would have that ability to double check reactively that they followed through. with that directive. OKu I just would want like yes we will do
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
29:05
that to the to like but I I just think that it's important for the state of Arkansas to be demanding of the money that we're going to spend to people if they've been irresponsible with that money we shouldn't fund them again or we should say you know you may not use money towards the facility that's under enforcement action. I don't know if you have the legal standing to do that or not. That that's really my question if you don't, I sure want to put that in law because if there's somebody that's got an enforcement action against
them from the state of Arkansas there's no way I'm going to prove taxpayer money to go back to that facility. and if you don't have the
legal authority to do that, I need to know that and it should be fixed in
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
29:48
my opinion. Can we follow up with you? Can we talk with our legal
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
29:54
counsel? OK thank you thank you senator Love you are recognized
Senator Fredrick J. Love
Unverified
29:58
for a question. Thank you Mr Chair. So I'm I'm going back to this district number4. So
they have collected there was a this district they they have a a contractor that has collected the tires and then we paid for them to collect and dispose of the tires but they have not disposed the tars and so we have a stockpile of tires is that that's accurate, correct? rr ect and
Speaker 57
30:27
they since moved to a new processor that nom
Senator Fredrick J. Love
Unverified
30:30
but ok I understand what you're you're saying but
I guess here's the the problem I'm having so we paid for someone to not only collect the tires but dispose of them so how do we reimburse for a service that they only do half of the job on I guess I'm'm I'm trying to get the full picture of it because we don't only pay for collection but we pay for disposal of the tire is that is that I mean that that's the the process is like two part it's collection and
Speaker 57
31:09
then disposal of the tire correct so each district does it a little bit differently because they use different types of processors so the manifest documents that the tire was collected transported and it may stop at I dropped it at a permitted processing facility with the understanding that that facility would continue the processing and dispose of it. We don't always get records from a permitted you know non district facility that they actually disposed or
Senator Fredrick J. Love
Unverified
31:41
recycled the the material that they process. OK so I guess therein lies the problem for me is that we're not seeing the entire process through and now we have a stockpile of tires that we have actually paid
for however they're not disposed of is that I
Speaker 57
32:00
mean is that inspect those facilities quarterly and we're able to tell you know whether they're stockpiling or processing on time or not so we do check quarterly to make sure
Senator Fredrick J. Love
Unverified
32:11
that that process was followed through. Do you think checking quarterly is I mean we have a stockpile of tires now so do do we not think that I mean because we're talking about people going and getting tractor trailer loads of tires per month right or or however they so is that adequate is that adequate for for what we're talking about because now we have a stockpile of tires and we paid for them
Speaker 54
32:43
I mean do you do do think it's adequate to catch that that that the tires are being stockpiled instead
Speaker 57
32:49
of properly disposed there are other factors as far as getting that facility to take care of the stockpile and the time that they need to do it in this case they completely shut down now we're looking for someone
Speaker 81
33:01
to to take care of that a different way so if it
Senator Fredrick J. Love
Unverified
33:06
was adequate then how do we have a stockpile of tires they shut down they they
Speaker 57
33:14
shut their gates there wasn't anyone we could talk to to resolve the OK. all right I
Senator Fredrick J. Love
Unverified
33:24
would I'll just leave it at that I don't think it's a adequate and and the reason why I'm saying it's not adequate is because we have a stockpile of tires and we've paid for them they're not disposed of that that's a to me that's a that's
an issue. so now we're talking about pulling out of the restricted reserve fund to actually pay for the tires that we've already paid for
Speaker 57
33:57
is that not correct? OK so what are we talking about now? So going forward each quarter we reimburse more than what we receive from the rim removal fee. each district's reimbursement rate is higher than the 2 31 which is what we receive from the rim removal fee. So each quarter we reimburse more than
we receive. so the the 2.5 million is to help cover that deficit each quarter so that the districts are not being reimbursed on a pro rata share they're being completely reimbursed to process and transport the tires that they did the previous quarter. and and we do check these sort of things you know to make sure that the tires were actually processed again we compare inspection reports the people that are in the field checking. so we are aware and try to prevent the stockpiling issue so
we would not re double reimburse for the tires that are at the stockpiled
Speaker 86
34:52
facility. So if I could I would like to just reiterate the 2.5 million today is meant to it is a to supplement the tire reimbursement money that I'm sorry the rim removal fee that's coming in to pay those tire reimbursements and its as a director Taylor noted if we have insufficient funds in a quarter what will happen is what happened in the third quarter of 2022 when we had to give pro we were faced with pro rata distributions meaning those tire districts one well back then
there was more but 1 through4 now would be receiving only a portion because we don't have enough money to cover it. That's what the statute requires if we don't have adequate funds so back in 22 actually money I believe from restricted reserve was used to help bridge that gap. so that's what the request is here today as far as district o and some of those those items they are at that current rates that current reimbursement rates if they want to increase that or change their business plan that does have to come through the department at thinko's due to
a change in 23 is actually presented to ALc so that ALC has an opportunity to take a look and see what all district four is planning to do to address some of those issues but no that that money is not intended to go pay for tires that were already reimbursed it's meant to supplement those tire reimbursements as as needed for all district for all districts yeah all right thank you thank you and I
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
36:12
just want to make sure I understand the general process so in in essence we've you know money's
being collected right now for tires state holds it there's districts that are set up across the state those districts create a plan they submit that plan to the state about how they're going to take care of you know the tires all the way to know how much
they're going to pay for them that district may engage with a processor in which then you know so they they get money from the state the district does they pay the process of the processor is the receiver for the tires and at some point in district4 it sounds like to me the processor that they had you know
contracted with just stopped doing their job right and that got caught and that got stopped. and then district our had to submit another plan and they're contracted with someone else right now that is a completely different processor that is processing the tires which there is still a cost for you know the the ongoing processing so my and then this replicates
itself amongst each one of the districts in some way or another maybe one area is more expensive to live in than the other or whatever it may be and there's some different cost factors and and some districts process their own tires for instance ok and so with all that
said, if we do not release the funds the 2.5 million which cannot be used for the district for issue only to collect and process tires what happens then we will reimburse
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
37:35
each district every quarter on a pro rata
Speaker 57
37:38
share of what we receive which would be an estimate400,000 dollars a quarter less than what they've requested. If if we do not collect sufficient revenue to
Speaker 86
37:47
cover like if they re need reimbursement on so many tires and we have not collected
sufficient room removal tire fees to cover that amount. but whatever the shortfall is will result in the pro rata distribution to all districts ok so
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
38:01
substantially less to all districts which means when they're not crossing tires it's like vacant lots that folks own in LittleRock that are full of tires that's where these tires are going to end up and we're gonna find the tires and we're gonna pay for them one way or the other and so my my question is is there a sol mean so you hear the concern the concern is district four and the
processor that they utilize which they are no longer utilizing has this backlog of tires and we don't want to give District o any money that could be even potentially used but if I'm understanding it correctly they couldn't because they've already
contracted to give the money that we were talking about with this pot to the new processor they're in the process of that OK I'm just trying to make sure we don't hamstring the entire strait and have tires piled up in your neighborhoods because we
don't have a place to take tires because we can't economically do that and I understand the concerns that are with what happened in district four and ensuring they don't continue to happen that's that's my so however we need to alleviate that I think we can Senator hickey you recognized thank you senator dismaying and
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
39:16
I think center dismaying had a, had a good little analogy of how it all worked but I want to make sure that there was one more piece so
and again I'm round numbers here but Davis Tyre is basically 290. and the plan that you think's going to be submitted is gonna be405 so we got a buck 15 per tire that's going to be going to this district that's that's the issue in my part is you've got this other buck 15 per tire over and above what it's going to cost to to shred them how much are the other districts receiving for that is that what would be your administrative fee where they're getting just a few cents
so the plan that you're talking about is is not a plan
Speaker 57
40:05
that we are prepared to support at this point we're anticipating a new plan so I'm hesitant to speak on a plan that we know is being pulled but I will say that that extra money also included the transportation of those tires from the retailer from the retailer to collection points let me ask you this and the other
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
40:26
three OK. So when the other three dis
districts though is the retailer not paying they're paying for the transport in the other three districts
Speaker 57
40:38
correct the retailer themselves in some cases the retailer chooses to pay for the transportation themselves. I thought it was almost
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
40:46
I thought it was in every case that they don't they get something like I'm sorry I know we've dealt with this for years is it like
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
40:59
the 3 dollars5% of the $3 all right so
that's gonna be 15 cents right so we got 15 cents so we got a buck5 we got a buck5 here so that gets us down to 90 cents so the 90 cent we're gonna just send this 90 cents as an administrative fee to that district what who who's doing what with that other 90 cents a tire
Speaker 57
41:29
inutTp for the tire retailers are able to have their
tires picked up for free by the district that's their model that's their plan
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
41:41
it again Mr chairir I I just and I I hear what you're saying you're telling me we've got this plan that you've heard something about and it's coming it's the same one that I'm hearing about this coming what are you all going to approve in the end? are you going to stick with the 290? are
you going to stick with something that's consistent with the other districts I mean I know and again I'm not I I don't you didn't create this problem unless you all didn't do your your job as far as watching these tires close enough to make sure they didn't get stacked up. I don't think that that was the case so I'm not don't misunderstand I'm not coming at you all other than I want to make sure that these people that in my opinion maybe there needs to be an investigation. I'm not gonna sit up here and say they've done
anything wrong yet I'll make some accusation you know that I don't know this true. All I'm saying is there's a red flag that's been run up for me that you sit down here and you tell me that somebody's been paid that there's a I don't remember your word but basically a monstrous pile of tires over there I I just don't see paying the same people anything I don't see paying somebody anything until we get it figured out that that there wasn't some
misuse of the money I just that's not who I am I just don't don't understand doing something like that or why we would even be that why we would even be thinking about doing that we're trying
Speaker 60
43:17
to prevent tires from continuing to be stacked up in people's homes and businesses so this is my thing I understand we've
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
43:23
got this over there and maybe you can't do it because of the way the wall is set up and that's something maybe I heard Senator Irvin ask
about what I'm saying is is if we've got a shredder that is willing to do it for 290 or whatever it is and I don't know if that includes them going to pick them up or doesn't include them going to pick them up is there some way until we figure all this out that we cannot just pay them their money direct they go pick up those tires at those locations in that district until we figure
out what's going on and we just pay whatever that
that bid number was so what's been happening in some cases is that the counties that are close
Speaker 57
44:11
to district 1. District one has been lending a hand and picking those up and taking care of those and we reimburse at district one's rate disstrict three has also been stepping in and we would reimburse disstrict3 at their rate for going across the the district four border and picking up some things that hasn't taken care of every single county but it has taken care of a lot of counties in district4 in this
interim. So so there is that ability for us to do that as a as a band aid and if
Speaker 86
44:40
if I could add to that I thinksenator hickey too I think the law does prescribe sort of the protocol of how we have to make some of those payments. So I'd have to, I don't have that right here in front of me today but I know it directs a lot of of our work
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
44:51
that in that way I don't mind paying the other districts if that's what we've got to do but this district that's in question that's allowed this to happen I just think that we're we've we've got to see that through before we give any more money and how we get that established in here that that's going to
happen that way I don't know or if it's something that we need to pull down or if it's something that we need to let y'all think about till Friday's meeting Mr. Chair. I just, I don't know where we need to go but that's the way I see that.
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
45:24
Thank you. right thank you members any other questions? all right seeingunn what's the will of the committee right we've got no motion
I would need to make sure that I mean my my hope is we can provide some clarity to members before we come in on Friday and if there's something that can be taken up on Friday because I I do believe there's probably some missing pieces in the conversation that we're having right here
about how the program works some of the procedures that are in place even if I'm just listening to what you're saying so I understand that we've got issues with
district o I don't know how you know what what those are exactly but I do know that if we don't pick
up tires we're going to have a much
bigger problem and if we punish the remainder of the districts because of district four I think we'll all be getting phone calls soon enough so if we can have some conversations with those that have asked questions I don't think we've asked anything for follow up with the exception of senator Irvin and a couple of questions about legal what that you can and cannot do I believe it would be helpful to pull the contracts and
agreements I believe most of that is probably covered in your contract that you have or approved or the agreement that's been approved and then probably more specifically the contracts between the district and the processor. all right thank you.
Members and I'll just ask real quick for those that were in the discussion because I want to make sure we're gonna do generally what y'all want to do as far as a committee are we wanting to hold that item here in in in subcommittee which it could still be pulled out for consideration in Alc or do we want to send it to ALC for future action I mean it in other words are we going
to wait a month to hear it or do we want to go ahead and try to get some of these issues resolved
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
48:11
before Friday. Mr Chair, I, I would think it appropriate that we hold it in this committee and then that way if you know if somebody was to come with a plan by Friday if that gives us the option to go ahead and pull it, pull it away from the from this committee that would work so I'd be happy to make that motion not not in any way saying that we're going to try to try to do this there's gonna have
to be some I believe from at least from my standpoint and from what I've heard from others is that you know we want some
answers as far as the tires that are there and how they're going to handle it to make sure no other money's going to be spent if they can come with that plan then I think that we need s at least need to give them the option to go ahead and do it by Friday. So my motion
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
48:57
would be to hold it in this committee. You don't need any motion we're good. we're good. right we're gonna hold it in committee and then we'll wait for some information
if we get that then we'll make the motion in full ALc to pull it out of committee you thanks right now we're going to move to section E. department oforrections.
William Parrish
Unverified
49:17
you've been sharing section E this is a reallocation of resources for the department of Corrections. There is no appropriation requested
Chair
Unverified
49:23
in this item. The request is to reassign positions related to the recidivism reentry system. the personnel subcommittee will take up this request on Wednesday. The action on this item will be a recommendation to ALC personnel to approve in the regular session the agencies provided more flexibility by allowing them to request a reallocation of resources to manage and make changes to personnel so the appropriation requests and the personnel changes are both seen by the appropriate
committees the reallocations will be seen by both ier and then personnel tomorrow. all right thank you members we need
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
49:54
questions on E1 this will have a different motion Representative Tos you are recognized thank you Mr chair can we get the department of Corrections? I have a quick
Representative Dwight Tosh
Unverified
50:04
question if you could go ahead and ask your question and we'll first of
all thank you Mr Chair I know I'm not on this committee and appreciate you giving me the opportunity to ask a question. I just I just want to make sure I see that we're transferring 150 positions from the Department ofrections to the division of corrections the reentry program based on a piece of legislation that we passed is that correct and then whoever needs to answer you can identify and then we'll
Speaker 155
50:49
Sonia Wallace human resources administrator for the department of
Representative Dwight Tosh
Unverified
50:53
corrections. did you did you hear my question we're transferring your yardard your agency is transferring 150 positions over to the reentry program is that the way I read this report? Currently
Speaker 157
51:05
we're only doing 50 transferring50 correctional officer positions or corporals we're going to wait and feel those and see
Speaker 159
51:12
how that goes before we take away from our security to make that we're allowed to do
Representative Dwight Tosh
Unverified
51:22
up to 150. that's why I'm saying you're asking for authorization for 150 and you're doing50 now I I understand that but I noticed these are vacant positions that you already have within the division of corrections so I guess what I was curious about is are you telling this committee that you have a 150 vacant positions within your agency at this time and you're going to be filling you're just transferring those over to the reentry program
Speaker 159
51:54
we do have some vacancies. I don't have the exact number at this time but we're constantly filling those correctional officer positions so that's why we only wanted to start
Representative Dwight Tosh
Unverified
52:05
with50 at this time and and I understand that miss Char I apologize for a couple of follow up questions but the report here says 150 vacant positions so that's the reason I I asked the question are these vacant positions that you're transferring because that's what I'm reading in this report and
that's what kind of got my attention as I was reviewing this so are they no positions or vacant positions these 150 are vacant positions are vacant positions one last question Mr chairir and I see that when you feel these positions you're doing it at the level of a correctional officer at the rank of corporal so where I'm a little bit confused on that and helped me to understand these are new positions that you're moving over to the reentry program and
you're doing that and you're asking for permission for to reclassify these positions I guess are they're already classified as corrections corporal. what is the rank of a entryleve correctional officer that enters into the department of corrections is what what would be their rank as far as their grade yeah they're well they're rank they got a rank I'm sure you got an organizational structure and they starts out either a correctional officer or a corporal or sergeant or lieutenant so what's a level
entry officer that goes to work his first day what is his title? what is his
Speaker 170
53:32
rank? dexter Payne. I'm the director for the division of correction at different facilities that that changes at our work release facilities
Speaker 171
53:38
they enter as a correctional officer one at our more larger facilities they enter as a corporal so this is the entry level for most of our facilities as a corporal. so the entry level is a corporal at the majority of our facilities other than our work release facilities and our community correction facilities.
Representative Dwight Tosh
Unverified
53:59
OK I'm not gonna to continue with question. I do have a couple of issues that I really need to understand because my concern is is an officer that enters at the division of corrections if they're not going into the reentry program they're actually gonna be starting out at a higher level or higher grade than someone that's actually going in the division of corrections if it's not to reentry program based on the explanation I just received unless I misunderstood
Speaker 173
54:34
for the reentry program we're going we're requesting
Speaker 159
54:38
that they be and I don't know the proper term reclassified from a corrections corporal over to a corrections program specialist so we're we're turning in these50 corporal positions so that we can have them reclassified to use for the the proper title that is needed for this program
Representative Dwight Tosh
Unverified
54:59
promise you understand all that I guess my concern is is that the
department of corrections has submitted a report that says they have 150 vacant positions and those are corporal positions which to me a corporal position is means someone that's had a little tenure there that's been there for a while and I guess Mr Chair my concern is is that I won't continue to re restate it is that how in the world did we go and be able to accumulate 150 vacant positions in the department oforrection. I I just
I didn't realize y'all had that many vacancies and they hadn't been filled so I don't know if you can answer that or not but I'll close with that thanks all right thank you one thing to
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
55:48
keep in mind this is all going to be fully vetted in the personnel subcommittee we are a
stop in the process not because of a rule not because of anything else but at the direction of the chairs in case there was an appropriation tied to the request for the transfer of the positions so again the the personnel issues and may be
more in line with some of your questioning you know this isn't the last stop this is the first we're just touching it
Speaker 30
56:13
and then we're you know to pretty much say that there isn't a preparation more or
Representative Johnny Rye
Unverified
56:20
less right I think I got Representative Rye first. thank you Mrir folks let me ask you this we're talking 150 positions OK how many this year between 2025 or 2026 how many do you actually think that you're gonna have to that you're gonna
have to hire is it just50? li
Speaker 178
56:41
nd se a y Wallace secretary for the department of Corrections, I apologize for my voice. So the act actually contemplates that we can convert up to 150 positions but we didn't want to start with that large of a number. The act also requires that we have one of these reentry coordinator specialist at each facility so we're starting with a small number to kind of gauge what we're going to need once we get it in place. we're gonna also
create a couple of positions that are a quality assurance position to help with program evaluation and assessment to sort of help us determine the effectiveness of what we're doing and also create some sort of regional managers to help with these correctional reentry folks at the facilities so we may need more but we wanted to start with the lower number before we went and asked for the whole thing. so that's why you're seeing the fi0. It was just kind of a starting point we know we're at
least going to need one maybe two at some of the larger fac il ities maybe3 but we don't know what that's going to look like yet but it works to create sort of a case plans. it works with reentry coordination out in community and all of those things related to that so I don't know exactly how many we're going to
Representative Johnny Rye
Unverified
57:58
need but that's what the act contemplates follow please sir yes ma'am but on page one it mentions 150 vacant correction officers positions
are you just gonna have 50 this next year I mean that's where I'm going with this. We don't quite
Speaker 178
58:16
know the answer to that yet. so as I said the the 150 is sort of the ceiling so we can go up to 150 vacant positions if we need to create some more but we didn't want to start with 150 because security is very important right? We didn't want to start with the whole 150. so we started with the smaller number that we thought would be feasible we're gonna have to see how easily
we're able to hire these folks hopefullypefully that salary will get us some good good applicants we also have talked about hiring formerly incarcerated to help with these sort of reentry navigation tools so again I don't I don't know exactly how many we're going to need but we wanted to start with I guess the smallest bite at the apple as we could so we may be back asking for some more but I didn't want to take all ofrector Payne's security folks all at once until we see what the
Representative Johnny Rye
Unverified
59:09
actual need is going to be for the positions so actually we're only
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
59:15
talking50 positions sir yes sir thank you thank you Representative Painter you're recognized for a question you it's just more for a request for information can you get
Representative Stetson Painter
Unverified
59:21
us the information on the staffing levels that you have at these correctional facilities where we're at on that place that way I think it can may help us to understand what you're asking for in this document Absolutely right thank you perfect right members do we have any other questions
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
59:39
all right seeing no other questions again this is
not an actual request for approval we are our our motion would be a motion to recommend approval to the AlC personnel subcommittee we've got a motion we've got a second any discussion on the motion
seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries we're going to move to our review items section F and again we're gonna take these both and we'll come back for questions thank you thank you Mr chair we're in section these are budget
Chair
Unverified
1:00:11
classification transfer requests if one is an item for the department of laborbor andliccensing contractctor licensing board it's a $10,000 transfer from operating expenses to conference and travel. According to their request they project the potential deficit and travel costs.taf learned they attended a conference in September at the same time there was a system outage that shut down air traffic in the connecting airport forcing them to extend their stay and nearly exhausting spending authority for the travel on item. Next item is F2. this is for Department oforrections it's a
$250,000 transfer from operating expenses to professional fees. This is to cover calls for a dietitian audits and preemployment psychological assessments. Mr chair those are the two BcT requests all right thank you members to any questions on F1
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:00:52
on F2 what's a little commission committee we've got a motion review we've got a second in discussion on the
motion seeing none all those the favor signified was saying aye all those opposed motion carries members I want to say this I should've said it at the
beginning I and J be reviewing those if you have any questions be ready for them if not we're gonna move on and adjourn so again I and Jay on the report section if you have questions be looking at those and have those ready and then we'll move forward right section G.
Chair
Unverified
1:01:29
thank you Mr. Chair we're in section G these are miscellaneous federal grant appropriation requests. the first onegone's Department of Human Services division of county operations this is for590,000 the spending authority. They have a grant from the USDA for a fraud
framework implementation project. The project will enhancesnap administration and increase oversight through analysis of EBT transactions to detect fraud. G2 isgy andnvi division of environmental qualityity this is for3.5 million. they have agrant from the Department of Energy for the weatheratherizations assistancegrame to increase energy efficiency of homes. G3 isarks heritage and tourism division of herritage it's 100,000. they have a grant from the National Park Service to support the Arkansas historic Preservationgramme, the state
matched of40% will come from the real estate transfer taxx. G4 is Department of Health 1.3 million. they had agrant from the CDC to provide emergency response for respiratory disease. The request notes increasing cases of a avian influenza and says the funds will be prioritized to purchase a mobile local health unit modernized testing at the lab, purchasing supplies, vaccines and protective equipment. G5 is a request from the department of healthalth it's3.8 billion. Davidgrant from the humanman sorry healthalthsources and Servicesdministration for the ADS drugsistancegrame.
G6 is commerce division of workforceervices officekis development. This is35.8 bill and to establish two positions they have a grant from the US Department of Labor to support the expansion of manufacturing registered apprenticeships, the personnel subcommittee will review the position titles and their grades in class at the meeting tomorrow. G7 is a military 200,000 they have a grant from the National Guard bureau and it's for there's a needed increase in extra help g 8 is agriculture 160,000. they
have a grant from the department of agriculture to support the national animalal Health laborboratorytwork specifically detecting emergency diseases and outbreaks g 9 is public safety emergency management4.1 million. they have a grant from FEA to support the emergency management performance grant programme that develops emergency management capabilities. G10 is a public safety emergency management again this is 2.1 million. they have a grant from FEA to support the nonprofit security grant program National Security Supplement and that does target hardening and physical security enhancements that nonprofits
that are at higher risk of terrorist attack. g 11 public safety emergency bandagegen 1.2 million. they have a grant from the Department of Homeland curity to achieve the national preparedness goal G12 public safety emergency management,58,000 a grant from FEMA for the national earthquake hazardous hazards reduction program G13 public safety emergency management 1.5 million. They have another grant for the department of Homeland Security to support nonprofit organizations at high risk of terrorist attacks. G14 is
agriculture. this is7 million. they have a grant for the USDA to acquire 1300 acres in the mall mill watershed to be held by central Arkansas Water members this is the item that was held last month and then pulled down before LC it has been resubmitted with information showing CAW as a subgrantee also included with the requests is reports or response to discuss ion the subcommittee had in the last meeting. thank you if we can go ahead and
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:04:40
have someone from the department of agriculture to start making their way forward I'm gonna read through the rest I know there's gonna be questions on it so
anyone have questions on g1 to 3 4 questions on56 7 8 8. we got a question on 8 that is also
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
1:05:03
ag department winner winner I'm gonna keep reading through while they're
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:05:13
coming up. Does anyone gonna have questions on 9 10 11
12 or 13 so just ag department if y'all can go
ahead and come up and then Senator Irvin you're recognized for your question you could recognize yourself for the committee
Speaker 189
1:05:53
yeah you're going to have to hit your mic thank you senator
Speaker 190
1:05:59
my name isharronulla. I serve as the director of laboratory services at the Arkansas Department
Speaker 192
1:06:08
of Agriculture. go ahead Inu Suzaki fiscal officer department of
Speaker 193
1:06:14
agriculture Kylecunningham state forester department of agriculture.
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:06:18
thank you thank you Mr Chair. so I I just I wanted to
specifically ask how you're going to utilize this money. First let me
just say thank you for the job you're doing. you do an excellent job and I just hands down to all the people at work at the state veterinarian and diagnostic lab under USDA and through the department of not USDA but Department of A so I appreciate all that you do but could you speak a little bit more are there specifics about the different things that you're addressing with this money if you don't mind.
Speaker 190
1:06:55
yes ma'am. first of all thank you for the words of encouragement. we appreciate all the support we get yes ma'am. we this we are recognized as a member of a national Anal Health laborboratory Network. We are alevel 2 laboratory recognized by the USDA so these grants will be used to provide to enhance our diagnostic testing capacity to be able to provide better purchase equipment micro pipes instruments etc. and to make
sure we have top notch biosafety and biosecurity for a personnel safety as we are handling some of these samples that come in for our testing. and also to provide a quality management and administrative support as well. thank
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:07:41
you and is there any updates or have we had any cases of the EhV outbreak
that we've seen in Texas and Oklahoma with the equine do you know could you
Speaker 190
1:07:57
yes ma'am we we are closely monitoring our department of division of animal healthalth personnel are closely monitoring the cases we have received several calls from concerned individuals asking for our assistance and we are keeping track of that information. OK well thank you. I just I
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:08:11
want to just more a little more information but also just to be able to say thank you and hope hope it's encouraging
but we really do appreciate it's it's really important work that y'all do thank you thank you ma'am really appreciate it
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:08:30
ladyman you're recognized for a question ong8. I'm sorry G12 I'll I'll get out
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
1:08:34
until they get it they got a question on G1 we've already have ag
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
1:08:39
department up so I'm gonna jump ahead of you so that we we don't make them go back and forth for the Mael water excellence do we have any other questions ong8? all
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:08:50
right seeing nonepresentative Bentley, you are recognized thank you chairman. I appreciate
Representative Mary Bentley
Unverified
1:08:56
it. I would like to ask a couple of
questions and why I'm over here why we are the number one state in the nation right now for people to move to we need houses built in Arkansas so you're asking us to give approval for7 million dollars of tax dollars to be spent on property that is prime for development around Lake Monel so they can't build any homes there given the fact that the Pulaski County Qorum Court has passed resolutions to make sure all of the land there in the likeke Mael watershed is properly taken care of any builders there are making sure they're not hurting
in the tributaries. So I really have some serious heartburn about us giving tax dollars to a water department for them to have more land around Lake Monel when the water there is pristine and clear and we need more houses in this area so I'm really, I'm really heartburned with this and I want to understand why we're giving another7 million dollars to central Arkansas waterter who just got 2 million acres mean 2and acres out of Perie County. millions of dollars spent over there. I can have no development there and now you want to get more land when we you know all around
Beaverlake, all around lots of lakes that we use for water we have homes around there beautiful homes who are the number one state in the nation need new homes so explain to me why we want to use tax dollars to stop
Speaker 203
1:10:13
development around that area. also if I could could I have central Arkansas water join me for this conversation would that be
Representative Mary Bentley
Unverified
1:10:18
ok it's fine if you want to have some more answer some questions for them that'd
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:10:25
be fine it's up to the chairman. if you could
just go ahead and make yourself or recognize yourself for the committee and then Representative bentley
Speaker 207
1:10:32
you are recognized to restate your question. thank you chair my name is Brian Rupar. I'm
Representative Mary Bentley
Unverified
1:10:40
the watershed protection manager for central Arkansas waterter. so just to reaffirm the Pulaski County Corm Court has passed a
resolution to make sure that any houses that are built in the Lake Mama watershed or are protected to make sure the water's protected that the tributaries are protected we know that's been passed by the cornco and Play County and now you're asking us to spend7 million dollars of tax dollars to stop any housing development around Lakealmill.
I just have some real heartburn with that again seeing that we're the number one state in the nation that people are moving to and these
in beautiful homes we've done it all around other lakes that are used for
Speaker 203
1:11:19
water around the state. why are we preventing it here at likekealmel? some of those questions I'll CAW answer I will speak to the forrest legacy programme it is designed for very targeted specific purchases to protect productive forest lands across
the state there are there are forest legacy areas that are identified and approved by the National Forest Legacy panel so it's not just open purchasing of land to remove it from production
Speaker 204
1:11:46
or development. the watershed in particular here is one that is in high
Speaker 203
1:11:53
risk of development and so when we look at this specific purchase it's in the headwaters of the mammellake of Lake Mammel and so it's really a targeted tract
that will help protect the water in that area there's other benefits here as well as we'll we'll continue to have timber production on this land the Wata National Trail runs through this area to pinnacle State Park and so there's a lot of multiple use benefits to the public for this particular tract. I agree with you overall we don't need to be buying land randomly across the state but so this started at the local level went to the regional level with Forestervice and then went through national approval of
procedures so it it's been transparent it's been you know went through the rigor of of approval and so these are very targeted purchases
Speaker 209
1:12:44
we do with Forre legacy is that help in any way? I I can see what you're saying with
Representative Mary Bentley
Unverified
1:12:51
the land coming into the lake around the Montmel River which is you know again my constituents have been extremely good stewards of that land that water coming in from thealmill River into Lake Monmel's pristine. It has been for generations those people are taking a great good care of that land but on the other side of
the lake we've already had some development that's not headadwaters coming into the lake that's prime material byRoland and littlettle Itly I care about my district. I want to see development out there we've already taken 2000 acres out of Perry County that can never be developed a land that we could have really been some nice houses on the Emperia County you've already and we already have you know the the US force the US national government owns watchha National Forest which has 170,000 acres in Perry County you've taken another 2000 to central Arkansas water and I can understand a little bit
there heading in from like momm the almel River right at the headwaters but you're talking about a lot more around that by roland and littlet lit t ly and all those places where beautiful homes have already been built and more can be built. I don't you know, again I just have some real heartburn like I could look at the list here of how many millions of dollars has been given to central Arkansas water it's a water department it's not a state park I you would love much feel better if it was part of you know Pinnacle State Park or for part of you know an a state land but it's not we're
giving it to a water department. I have
Speaker 212
1:14:16
some real heartburn with that. thank you for your question. so this property does protect the streams that flow into Lakealelel. it was selected because it's proximity towards feeder streams like along Bringle Creek this is an additional 239,240 acres in Perry County under this particular grant we do have plans to work as we do with all our existing
holdings with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to allow this to be a public asset for for public hunting and fishing and recreational opportunities you are correct that the zoning was passed for parts of pulaski County and that's just one of our protection methods ownership is another and so to maintain that water quality the reason it's high quality now is because it is forested land and this purchase would ensure that it's that way
for future generations of Arkansans that it'll remain
Speaker 203
1:15:19
forested. I need to follow up also so these forre legacy acquisitions are from willing sellers we don't force anyone to take you know to sell
Speaker 204
1:15:25
anything as a matter of fact if they want to keep a homestead they're welcome to do that you know we really work with the landowner this is not a a government you know take of land in any sense and then also you mentioned the funding. I just want to point out that these forrest legac
y funds are from the land water and conservation fund from the
Speaker 209
1:15:46
federal Forre legacy programme this specific purchases from the inflation reduction actct portion that they received again I would say we have people
Representative Mary Bentley
Unverified
1:15:54
on the Mamoriver long before it gets to that forested area and this is I don't don't blame deltic timber they're struggling financially they want to sell some property that's fine but it's not you know, I understand that they want to do one big purchase deltic timber does to get rid of some property and make some money. I understand that but there's landowners all around
that area mixed in with deltic it's not just all owned by Deltic it's not all forces a lot of landowners mixed in all in with that so all around Little Itly andymount and all that. I just I have some real heartburn with this and I'll leave with that. I'm not a member of the committee so I can't stop it from being voted on but I have some real concerns. I just think we're out of time we should be building houses and not stopping production when we have again plastic can is pass great water protection and land protection to make sure that those developers that put houses in there do it correctly and don't hurt any of the tributaries
those great protections that have already been passed. So chairman I'll leave it with that and I just would ask that we hold it and not move
Representative Jon S. Eubanks
Unverified
1:17:02
it. You recognize thank you Mr chairir I guess my question
is why is the central water going to be the owner of this property? why doesn't the state retain that
ownership if you're trying to protect the the watershed and would they be able to sell that property at a future date first question we
Speaker 203
1:17:24
would have to turn that into a state forest and so we would have to look at the cost associated with us to do that the other side of that is you start looking at what entity could carry this because we're looking at benefits over decades we're not looking at5 to10 years and so what entity is the entity
that can do that and and CAW with their work in that area to
Representative Jon S. Eubanks
Unverified
1:17:53
me is the the proper entity to do that is there any language in this purchase that would require them
Speaker 203
1:17:59
to always maintain it as there are provisions if they want to sell the land it basically takes I believe congressional approval to do that and that could you repeat that
Speaker 204
1:18:08
couldn't hear it would basically take congressional congressional approval for them to do that there's a
Speaker 212
1:18:18
there's a deed restriction placed on any property that's included. there's a notice of grant agreement filed the property has to remain in perpetuity as forested conditions if it's not, if it wants to be disposed of the secretary of the department of agriculture has to approve that disposal and then the
Speaker 207
1:18:40
secretary also has to request then reimbursement back for that investment whatever percentage was paid for that property they
get that same percentage back on any sale. I've been working with the forre legacy programme for over 20 years formerly with a state agency the only time I've ever seen a conversion was when the highway was expanded in Calhoun County Highway 167 and it took about two years to transfer that property even though the Department of Transportation had condemnation rights it was about a twoyear process to get rid of it
Speaker 212
1:19:10
because it was for another public good so it is possible to dispose of it but it's highly unlikely and if it does CW would never
Speaker 207
1:19:19
receive the financial benefit or gain for that it would go back to the program excuse me thank you
Representative Johnny Rye
Unverified
1:19:37
notpres representative rye you're recognized for a quote yes sir thank you Mr Chairman I have nothing whatsoever against this right here but I I want to say this I've been wanting to say it for a long time we're taking care of of larger places but we're not looking at
the smaller places like we should for the we have basically $25 million a year for three years that's gonna go to rule to water OK? that's not enough we I knew that was not enough money but what's bothering me guys is I've got a town that cannot drink their own water and they're going to another town to wash their clothes now
I just had to say that because I've been for a long
time that's bothered me and I wish y'all would look into these things a little bit better
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:20:35
OK? thank you thank you Mr Chairman thank you sir senator
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:20:39
Irvin you're recognized for a question thank you. sorry can you just on this which which color is it that you're proposing to purchase I have it in color on my online but I'm just trying to understand what I'm looking at
because it doesn't make it clear to me I see let me get to the map real quick. I just want to know what it is that we're purchasing and how much of it's in plastic counting what's in
Speaker 204
1:21:07
perry count exhibit the the second map you have that's
Speaker 203
1:21:10
what'm looking at so the creeks track the the area in the orange color will be the acquisition
Speaker 209
1:21:21
OK hold on so it'd be just of the national
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:21:24
forest land there so orange so east and north is that correct? northwest so east and northwest ok OK. so all right. well and then did you have a what what's the property tax associated with that and and I guess that was one of my questions that I had which was
Speaker 204
1:21:55
why I held it for the I know the Perry County was in question and I I believe we determined it was about48 dollars for that because it's not a large
Speaker 207
1:22:05
portion actually in Perie County for the pulaski I don't for pulaski County it's about $2000 in annual taxes and that's just acres
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:22:14
ok but that's not as it's developed like it has the potential to be more if it were developed into homes or things like that right so I mean but so we don't really have that figure
ok and then did you say that was it plus that I hear that I understand that Perry County passed past took action opposing this is that correct? did Pulaski County'm not aware of that understood that to be the case but that may be a question for OK I just didn't know if you do y'all go through any of those channels when you're doing these types do you go to your county do do we go to the counties and
Speaker 209
1:22:58
and discuss this with them not with the counties no
Speaker 204
1:23:04
there's like excuse me so there's a process you know applicant submits an application it goes before the forest stewardship committee and then it goes to a final submission to the US Forest Service for the region eight preparation. it goes to the national panel for review there for the forret legaccygra national panel the president and OMB then approves it it goes through Congress and then comes back
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:23:28
through the USDA for final approval. OK and then you you had spoken about some a partnership withame and fish is that
Speaker 235
1:23:40
could you restate that for me? Currently we lease the majority of our our holdings around Lake Mallel to
Speaker 207
1:23:45
the Arkansas game and fish Commission. as part of the Mallmeel River Wildlife Management Area they were looking for opportunities for recreation near large population centers and so I believe the original agreement was in 2013 to start
leasing our properties to open it up so we provide the property at a discounted rate of about 10% of what they pay private timber lands to lease property for and then we allow that public access and work with them cooperatively to manage access points regulations for hunting, hiking, whatever fishing birding OK, right.
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
1:24:19
OK all right. thank you. right Senator Boyd you're recognized for a question
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:24:32
Sorry that was an accident hate to hear that. right members if we have any other questions ong14.
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
1:24:44
all right seeing no other questions thank you I'm gonna circle back department ofublic safety G12 we're we're good. thanks
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:24:52
g 12 p re s ent ative ladyman Johnno he is still here
he had a question on G12 Representativeladymann
do you want to ask your question on G12? OK. right thank you members seeing no other questions what is the will of the committee p re s ent ative Vaughtult you are no you're not hold on recognizecog for motion thank
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
1:25:40
you Mr Chair. I, I'm make a motion that we pull G14 for a separate vote and that everything else would be approved. right
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:25:49
we have a motion to review itemsg1 through 13? we'll go
take those separate motions we're gonna move forward so
any discussion on that motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries
now we're gonna take up G14 we've got a motion to review
because we're doing it separatelys is there any discussion on that motion on G14? all right seeing no discussion. we've got
a motion do we have a second? we've got a second all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed right motion fails all right we're gonna move on to
our section h pay plan app preparation requests one and two Thank you Mr Char
Chair
Unverified
1:26:52
we're in section H these are apa plan appropriation requests the board of examiners and counseling requests5000 and pay plan appropriation for extra help and the board of nursing requests 122,000 for regular salaries match and extra help. Members have any questions on h one or two
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
1:27:14
all right seeing no questions what's the will of the committee we've got a motion reviewed we've got a second in discussion on the motion seeing none all those a favor signify by saying aye on those opposed motion carries word out of reports members do we have any questions on the reports seeing no questions on the reports they stand as reviewed any other business seeing none members with that want to back up on the G14 it's
gonna be in a very similar posture to what what's happened earlier except this one had a motion it
just has a motion to not review I'm assuming that there'll be further discussion on G14 in the full Alc on Friday so just as a heads up with that we are adjourned
Agenda
A. Call to Order
Items for Approval
B. Various Temporary Appropriation Requests
C. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Appropriation Requests
D. Restricted Reserve Fund Transfer Request
Item to Recommend Approval to ALC-Personnel
E. Reallocation Resources 1. Department of Corrections
Items for Review
F. Budget Classification Transfer Requests
G. Miscellaneous Federal Grant Appropriation Requests
H. Pay Plan Appropriation Requests
I. Quarterly Report
J. Monthly Reports
K. Other Business
L. Adjournment
Documents
Speakers
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
William Parrish
Unverified
Chair
Unverified
Speaker 7
Speaker 10
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
Speaker 21
Speaker 13
Representative Jack Ladyman
Unverified
Speaker 35
Representative DeAnn Vaught
Unverified
Speaker 43
Speaker 54
Speaker 57
Speaker 63
Speaker 66
Speaker 60
Speaker 76
Speaker 81
Speaker 72
Speaker 86
Senator Justin Boyd
Unverified
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
Speaker 69
Senator Fredrick J. Love
Unverified
Representative Dwight Tosh
Unverified
Speaker 155
Speaker 157
Speaker 159
Speaker 170
Speaker 171
Speaker 173
Speaker 30
Representative Johnny Rye
Unverified
Speaker 178
Representative Stetson Painter
Unverified
Speaker 189
Speaker 190
Speaker 192
Speaker 193
Representative Mary Bentley
Unverified
Speaker 203
Speaker 207
Speaker 204
Speaker 209
Speaker 212
Representative Jon S. Eubanks
Unverified
Speaker 235