Joint Budget Committee - Pre-Fiscal Session Budget Hearings

Roll call Joint Budget order. First item on the agenda were ask that we suspend the rules members if you'll member in their last. I guess it was last used the we had these on field position for 2 years is in accordance ax 796 of that the. We pass that we would review these positions that were not a field for 2 years before you there was passed out by staff you have the positions of 46 positions that the staff is clearly identified they're not tied to the insurance and they been vacant for 2 years so I need a motion to suspend the rules if is the pleasure is created take this up of a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye. Any opposed. Once again members this is to the front sheeple 46 positions. If we adopt that we adopt the of the letter to route 40 FNA. To do away with these positions on a motion to do that. We have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye opposed. All right thanks give we're going going to. I guess C. or transition whose. Mr Coleman. You come before and identify yourself and we'll start off with the department of public safety shared services. Thank you Mr chairman don Coleman the bill or and our first division to look at when the permit public safety is administration service services and this is volume 2 of your manuals by the way everybody and that's page 2 volume to that will start on. Also there you'll see the administration shared services has 7 different appropriations totaling just under $50000000. The public safety equipment grant program fund is a majority of this a $40000000 and that's created by ACT 700 86 of 2021 this past session. The department public safety cabinet appropriation okay on page 14 of your manuals accounts for just over 6.$7000000 of the $50000000 total I within this preparation we see salary in match adjustments for the total of 89 positions. We got to pay 16 you have the crime victims reparation Board appropriation and this program provides financial compensation of those of an injured as a result of crime and based on the governor's balance budget presentation is a program that could see additional preparation attitude as a session gets under way Mr chairman that concludes Administration search service. Well there are no changes. No changes besides salary match to the cabinet appropriation okay any questions Mr gold. All right seeing none we buy like to hear for the. Agency. Okay. Senator Hester. The agency will come on board of a question for Senator Hester. It. German Jean I don't wanna get allow I was going to ask of a state crime lab and in the state we got there yet all right that's what our back office okay all right. Any other questions. Motion to adopt a rabbit. We have a motion to adopt a second any discussion all in favor say aye any opposed. All right we're going to a crime information center Coleman all right synnex we have a crime information center in this location on page 25 of your manuals. ACICS 5 to appropriations at up to just over 7.$3000000 the operations appropriation on page 27 accounts for around $6000000 that total and the only change I was here minor salary and match for the 50 other US position for crime information center. Okay you. Reserve Cavenaugh for your questions for staff. Okay for agency all right any other questions for staff. If the agency will come forward. We have a question for representative Cavenaugh. You identify yourself. The representative can ask questions. Thank you Mr. Good morning I'm Jamie cook secretary for the department of public safety. I'm John Smith CFO for public safety. Correct spellings Arkansas crime information center operations director Ruben Cavanaugh thank you Mr chair I'm just on page 27 and it's a pretty simple is that you've got in excess funding at the end of 2021 about $5000000 what is that excess funding able to be used for what do you do with it. That funding is used to operate this of their main appropriation but it the if the funding is of special revenue that comes in for criminal background checks. In are you able to carry that forward we are not exist on the 90 I didn't know if you're able to move it and use it somewhere else or has to stay here we did request in the last minute no in this biennial to move $1000000 of their general revenues to the crime lab for their operations for increased operations so we reduce the general revenue in this appropriation. But will operating off the fund balance okay but you can actually move that if you need to move it to other things I can move the general revenues yes okay the special revenues stay here stay here yes ma'am okay thank you. Senator Pitsch you have a question over here real quick and it's probably just clarification but I'm looking on page 25 and I'm not sure if this is for staff for for agency but we just wrote off a bunch of unfilled positions and I see your actual last year was 46 of 4000007 the topline with a budget of 50 FOR 6000085. The that's got to be that the 0 36 for 4 positions. And that seems like very high that's got to be about $4000 per person just under and we're I don't know if you've got those 4 positions last year or if that's just the budget I see in the authorized 50 and you're asking for 50 again but we're at 1000000 36 and salaries for those 4 people I guess I'm kind of questioning session 1 of well over 300000 jobs so what are those 4 jobs that. What positions between 46 and 50. Your actual was 474727846 and your budget was 6085 with 50 that's a different from a mass right of 1000000 36 that's our shared services transfer okay I move 21 or 2 positions from. I see I see the DPS shared services. Like all in line with I said you have 50 then or did you just move them over and state those overnight left 50 with the agency okay but are you asking for 50 now. In the going forward. What yes we're still asking for the same 50 that's in the Act okay at I guess my question is are we raising your budget for salaried A. L. 90 CIC operations of 0 36 or we're not okay. So that's money sliding from one to the. Yes Sir. Any other questions for the agency. Seeing none your excuse. We need a motion executive director. We have one and a second any discussion all in favor say aye opposed. All right rich Coleman one state crime lab. Thank you Mr chair saw straight state Congress sorry state crime lab is looking on page 37 under manuals crime that has 4 till appropriations in the total appropriation amount of nearly 18.$8000000. Crime less state operations appropriation locate on page 43 consist of 13.$6000000 and 18.$8000000 total permitted division and their minor changes to salary match for the 139 authorized positions with crime lab. Any questions for staff. Center if you have a question for the agency. No other questions for staff. Which would you will agency or the staff. When asked the staff. Hold on hold on your your 19 today you move around you were an 18. All right we we have several discussions about forensic science position out there is they have been filled. At you mean the educational assistance related program OR L. it was a foreign 6 it was a position for a forensic individual okay I would judges for that position question to that is the. Well this goes the agency that Arkansas well let's wait list I got someone make sure it but AT questions staffer of the senator Hammer your staff or agency. Of review to bury your. Sure okay so all right let's get back in order of you're going to fix your question with with and then we'll go to Senator. So staff made 804. Thank you. Identify yourselves again and. This current challenge the directors state crime lab. Jamie Kurt secretary for department public safety all right thank you president will your. You're recognized. My question the is have you ever been able to feel your thank you for rinsing position out there the the $300000 a yes we were representative we're able to a tract a chief forensic pathologist and actually an associate as well so those those those 2 positions are filled or fail okay thank you Mr. Thank you senator Hester you're recognized. Thank you so it's it's it's seems to be a recurring question you're here that I think we've gotten line but is there is our current backlog on rate kids in Arkansas and if so are we giving you the adequate resources correct. There there is a backlog of sexual assault kits you're aware of Act 839 that was passed kind required us to have a. A backlog turnaround time basically of of 60 days so that the you know that was the the newest thing And we were not able to fulfill that requirement as of yet. Is is that is that due to lack of resources or ability or are we not giving you what you need to to be able to honor that. Well the. You know a lot of that we out source of some cases a lot of those property cases in a lot of those outsource laboratories or backlog because every crime laboratory is inundated with cases so them and I think that's you know part of the problem but you know internally we're trying to be as efficient as we can you know so it's going to come to the point we're gonna have to really look seriously at that because I've got you know we're a lean 6 sigma laboratory for the last 3 years you know we've been ranked probably number 2 in the in the country and the world actually being efficient and that's one of the things that we look at every year is number one were efficient number 2 can we keep up with the backlog if not what is going to be the resolution to that. And I'll finish up can you tell us what is the backlog on days in the amount estimated I'll probably changes day in and to you said it's something we have to look at I I would say look at a between now and fiscal session and we're ready to act thanks absolutely not appreciate that and basically do have some statistics basically our backlogs at a 705 and that sexual assault kits in our turnaround time is is hang about 10 months which is of course not 60 days so those are things we're looking at. March senator Hammer you're recognized. Thank you Mr morning morning of in previous fiscal sessions we've discussed your building and since last time I think you've got a consultant report backed up how much of your ability to be efficient. Is limited by the facilities that you have to operate in. Senator Hammer that's that's a good question because you know one of the things we have to look at a space obviously with the forensic science you know there's there's always a growing need in our building is approximately 40 years old so that's one of the reasons we did a feasibility study of people right by federal grants to come to have some outside eyes commended assess our situation to find out what is going to take based on our backlog based on our crime stats and what's gonna look like to build a facility that's gonna last state of Arkansas 30 years so that's kinda where we're at looking at that and trying to figure out what we gonna do is a state to go forward and forensic science well last time I was over there you had bodies down in your more stacked up and what I'm wondering is what to do consultant tell you and what do you need to tell us as legislators that we need to be aware of in order to give you the facility you need in order to make sure that leased the violent crimes are being processed in as timely of a manner as possible and how specifically you're building structure is limiting you from getting them turned around on time if you're fully staffed it's not a staffing issue then is it or is it a facility issue or both up I think I think it's both realistically because if you look at facility you know you have to have adequate space in order to grow with forensic science technology changes in you have to have all adequate infrastructure to support that and quite frankly you gave me 20 individuals today I I wouldn't have the ability to house them so I think there's that limitation as well as the limitations that we have with the the medical examiner's office medical examiner's office is in the basement of a building there's no room to expand that we have you we've done renovation projects paid for by the federal government through through grants to renovate space kind of in line with our lean 6 sigma processes which has helped but I I think that again I think that we're a we're just a place in Arkansas we're gonna have to look in. And figure out how we can move forward in time. Well maybe 20 now the fiscal session we get you from committee bring a consultant report and let's hear about it so that we can develop a plan to give you the tools you need you know facility wise in order to be able to make sure because you know they were sitting meeting it was projected that are you are crime rates can increase 3.7 percent over the next 10 years I can't help but imagine you're going to be dealing with some of those and and did your consulted do a project of outlook into the future in order to a factor that into the space you need absolutely what they did is a a study that would project us 30 years in the future because it it makes no sense to build a building that's gonna last you 10 years when we're gonna be in the same situation so the intent is to look at what it's going to take based on the crime stats population the demographics of the specifically the state of Arkansas you know including in that is all the backlog including the the death cases that we get in which is growing in that projected that projection I think is realistic and I think it's really again we're gonna need going forward okay thank you thank you sure. Thank you senator. Representative mark where you're recognized thank you Mr chairman and I think Senator Hammer in the Senator Hester pretty well covered all the questions that I had but I will say that I've been to the crime lab and I would encourage the members to go over and visit the crime lab and sit down with the Director channeling his staff but they're in a 40 year old building that's they have employees that are working in the halls they have cardboard that's funneling air conditioning to the appropriate places them centers Hammer said that the the mortgages stacked up their new bodies around the toxic lab is on 3 floors different from where the medical examiner's Arkansas about retention also and Director channel and I had this conversation that in order to attract high quality medical examiners you need provide them with the resources and the tools to do their job effectively and we're not doing that in the Arkansas state crime lab we need to look have a long range strategic planners think the feasibility study that Director channeled sent to me pretty well lays that out we're Arkansas needs to go up for the future D. parking lot the building there's overcrowding he can't turn up employees and and the only way that he can help solve crimes is by resolving so a lot of the issues that he has over to crime lab and he's being a lot more gracious than than I would be if I was sitting in his same position but I understand your position because I've sat in that position before so Director Senate there's anything that the legislature can do just like Senator Hammer saying I think we're open to doing that just need to let let us know we appreciate thank you Mr the flu thank you. Would you agree. Would you agree that. These are both the questions. I would I would absolutely agree on the presentation. Thank you representative very. All right senator just feel you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair I heard you say we were in an efficient agency how is that defined if we've got a backlog. Right there the comes a point where like I said we're a lean 6 sigma laboratory and really what that means is we try to eliminate any waste and make our what we do is sufficient as possible for customers if you will criminal justice system and a lot of that of course with science and technology especially if I'll tell you what I what I know as far as a DNA analyst the technology changes it becomes more complicated the systems become more sensitive each case and all referred to drugs becomes more difficult to do we're also an accredited laboratory which takes a lot of time and effort to jump through those hoops to ensure that we're doing everything to national standards were not just coming up with something because I want to do it in Arkansas so there are all of those things but there comes a point where the number of cases coming in don't match the the individuals that you have so like I said when the last 3 years we've been recognized as one of the best laboratories in the world actually on efficiency making sure that we're doing we're talking about process brought the the process and also the asking about processing that's my concern we have the process in place we have the technology you have the credentials obviously but we're not able to process the product how do we get to that do we need more people working because I I just need straight as do we need more folks at the crime lab that are qualified so that we can get it done or do we need more efficiency as we outsource do we need more efficient partner with home to work in the outsourcing what do we need because your definition of efficiency I get now but I don't understand it in connection with how we can get rid of this backlog of cases because these things are so critical right and there's there's 2 components to that I believe senator I think number one we have to have more scientists at the bench and I always like to say that's a last resort because of your inefficient putting more sciences that the bench doesn't do you much good so we already artificial laboratory so I think the next hurdle is how do we get more sign. This. Following that is where we gonna put them you know again this is an important topic that I think that you know I've been at the crime lab for was 32 years of work through the system and I know these are critical needs and I and I know that we have to as a state we have to get there what do you see is our biggest hurdle to getting the scientist to help with that is it is it money what what what is it. department of a building services yeah well I believe that public safety is our number one responsibility as government and I think this is a critical thing that clearly I believe that the legislature be supportive of so what will will start to to look at that and see what we need to move forward next what what is the. Estimated resources to do one rape kit is that one person 3:00 hours at one person 3 days like what what is what is that well one of the things that we've implemented as a again going back to efficiencies and actually national best practices where we're taking our sexual assault kits and actually moving them direct to DNA because it's more efficient it's a little quicker I believe we get about 70 sexual assault cases in 70 to 80 sexual assault kits in a month and each analyst can do approximately 4 to 5 sexual assault kits and I believe that. Per week. Okay thank you. Representative mark very. Thank you Mr just 2 quick questions director how much do you pay for your lease on an annual basis. It's so approximately 890000. A year the pretty close to getting close to $1000000 lease on the building that we don't own and is it true that you pay a lot of the operations and maintenance expenses that personally also what we don't pay for them the well it depends and why I say that one of the things that if it's if it's attached to the building then it belongs to them if it's not a long stalled us but we have a maintenance individuals from you know that come in quite often to help us out thank you Mr one follow up please. Your salaries looking at the historical average on salaries for the crime lab is negligible so can that be attributed to your retention problem. You know it. It is salaries for the crime lab has gone up very little over the past 10 years how do we fix that well we we went from I believe 37000 with the pay plan went up to 45 in change for salary so you know I 45000 that that makes us. In the ballpark I think for people to actually look at us but the problem comes when they remain at 45000 you know it was like I was ask for about the stepping stones and things in state government for forensic science and and this isn't just a problem for Arkansas forensic science across the board is there's very little career ladder for them to to move up so that's one of the things with our step program that we're looking at for that we have implemented now with relationship to titles the intent is at some point can we get those funded somewhat thank you direct thank Mr. Thank you representative senator Hammer. Thank you Mr thank you are your facility issues threatening your certification we talk about the employee side of things represent wouldn't hit on the building site but specifically the condition of your buildings and looking into the future is it going to be a threat to your national certification that has direct impact on the outcome of cases in court. You know at this point the Senator Hammer I think the only concern as far as looking at certification is our national association of medical examiners certification peace the rest of the laboratory probably not there to certification processes but I think the the the big problem I think in the in the future is going to be the medical examiner's office okay and then the second thing I'm looking at the next question action interviews are those protected under FY. But laws or do we do now is do we as legislators have access to the content of the X. interviews to see why people are leaving Senator Ingram I'm not an attorney but I believe that they would be subject to a full on because they're not us a specific but I could follow back up with you on that what's the number one reason you've got that people and 10 percent is lower by a by the way I mean a committee for that compared to other agencies that is not a singer I'm just curious is it what's the number one reason why people are leaving your agency. I believe it's probably a toss up between. Higher education and salary. Okay and then the last question is about the audit report of shared services and when it comes to the benefits that you've received as part of share services since it's gone into existence what could you point to and say that it's helped you save money. Well I I think the big thing automatically is the transfer of $1000000 returning funding from a CIC because you know that was that was key when I testified in committee 4 being able to negotiate salary for the forensic pathologist I think that's one of the big things because without that a recurring funding we probably would have already lost our accreditation as far as medical examiner so as you guys know I testified in committee before about Memphis can't even fill a position for 300000 so locally with the you know that process we were able to accomplish that so from shared services you get $1000000 is that what you just said or did I misunderstand that well it was that the transfer and I guess maybe not understanding this the shared services peace but it was the ability to transfer funding from a CIC into the crime lab is what to save the day if you will for medical examiners all right thank you thank Mr. Back to you Senator Blake Johnson. State channel analyst different is that right so yars is centralized. And in some states handle is different because I got a call from Missouri representative a few years back that I think they have regional crime labs along across our state. Would it be feasible to have I know you're facility that you're in now is is 40 years old or whatever can we not have to those facilities in central Arkansas. Doing this doing this in the State of one huge one. Well it I think having a main facility in in Little Rock it is the is the best thing for the state we do have a satellite laboratory Lole and we're really pushing a lot of drug cases out of that lap because of the you know the drug problem the that we're saying I mean we we're gonna hit 23000 drug cases alone which is going to be another record so as far as a full service lab anywhere else I think I think it wouldn't be financially prudent to to go down that road because you're gonna be one a lot more than $183000000 the only reason I ask is because they were trying to look at something like we have the third twice a population that I don't know if that's why they went to their decentralized. And use or what but I was just just thank you. All right members are no other questions will entertain a motion for executive wrecked we have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye. Any opposed. We appreciate it. We're going to of state crime what you may want to merge the management. And Mister Coleman you have that also. Thank you chairman. S. the next we have the Division emergency management for which the appropriation summary is locate on page 47 of your manuals at 15 separate appropriations that comprise a division of emergency management combined equal just under 221.$5000000. Department state operations appropriation is located on page 50 of your manuals is roughly $4000000 preparations for day to day operations and slight salary match changes for fiscal year 20 to authorize the 62 authorized positions similarly the federal operations appropriation on page 52 shows no change levels with the exception of salary match and there are further I'm sorry there are no further changes apart from minor salary match just once throughout the rest of the division as well. Any questions for staff. Any questions for okay representative Cavenaugh if you want the Department. All right if the Department come forward. You identify yourselves privative Cavenaugh has a question. Good morning AJ Gary on the Director of the Arkansas division of emergency management. I'm Bobbie Ann Clark on finance deputy director. Really coming off you're recognized thank you I'm I'm here to your right all the way over here thank you my questions really dealing with to fund balances that you have the first one 's going to be dealing on page number 70 on the fund balance of approximately $5000000 in the public safety trust fund. What are we able to do with that money. The public sector trust fund we we use that a number of ways we collect them funds from the the telephone providers and that money is 8000000 a year goes to a win for the upgrade of our system and and for the for the A. one system and then we also give um. 625 a quarter for for Alita I mean that those funds are actually 10 down and every every month anything that we have left in that fund is given to the the 911 board for the P. saps in the in the state okay well this shows that in the 2021 you had almost $5000000 in in your fund balance did you give that to the 9114 we are that we have to give that on the fifteenth so if it was just a carry over by the fifteenth of July that fund is wiped out around the fifteenth of each month. The time the excess funding goes to the 911 board yes ma'am okay. And Mister chair feel indulge my other ones on 7574. And it is the fund balance in that the wireless involved network. A win. What is that able to be used for. That that balance. Those monies that's where actually we we have a public thank you trust fund we also have this fun and the 2000000 a quarter that distribution goes into this fund we turn around empate regions as the trustee on our bond we pay them to may I saw some I think it's just a timing issue we probably only have about 2000000 in that account right now. Yeah it shows you have an excess funding of teachers you have a fine balance of $2000000 if you have a fund balance what are you doing with. Yeah I'll I'll I'll try and the rebels here some may bring her up for may win but but basically we are paying for the bond so I think it's all in timing I mean we don't I don't think we have like 2000000 that's not going to something but you know we're paying for a full upgrade for the A. one a win system throughout the state of Arkansas so it's a very extensive upgrade so we're paying on the bond on that were also going through that upgrade so there's a lot of. You know we're looking at towers in that so you know that there may be some of that money there that will be going to make sure that the towers are. Our our. Are well enough bill because we have to have them inspected to be able to handle the new equipment. Okay the reason I'm asking is because my counties. Did it do nothing but complain about a win and that the issues that we have with that and that the inability to be able to communicate and emergency issues so there there's an issue with a win that's why I was asking about the fund balance if we have a fund balance are we not using it. To better the situation for the people that need it the most and you're saying that you all use that money yes we're we're going through a like set a major upgrade is in its its extensive so it's going to take a little while to get there and it will increase not only the you know the the capacity but you know the the number of users that can go on as far as what issues are without a win yeah I'm not sure which which area that is some of those issues of its capacity or are our range in this for a better term for that that will probably be corrected in the upgrades you know one of the other things you know it it it may be that that they just don't have the. Blake in the department they may not have the radios that they need. I'm not sure what the problem is that there's refer there several in H. one because has its own little issue I mean that but how long is it going to take for this upgrade. We're looking at about 2 years 2 years okay thank you thank you Mr thank you. Representive college you and see 14. You're recognized. Thank you Mr are your the primary point people for cybersecurity response and state and if so could you kind of tell us the status of planning and preparedness around that as well as funding of anything that is needed. Yes great question we we're we're not the point that would be the apartment of information services I we do work very close with them we also manage a homeland security grant a federal grant so we're able to push some of that funding to help on trainee for cyber security so so we're involved with it but the main point it would be the Department of of the information services thanks we also briefly over last couple years added cyber security as a emergency support function to our operations so. CSF 16 and we did that because of the importance of cyber security you know if it's a cyber security event it's a disaster it's an emergency so we and the I. S. is the lead for that merchants the support function so at this point as far as your role and your need to feel like you're adequately prepared financially for that I was yes for for for us so we we can we could reach out for the resources from the I. S. I think we can always do more for for securing our our information systems and a lot of that's the training I know there's a lot of work being done on that through the ideas. All right senator Hammer you're recognized for a question thank you Mr I'm looking at page 50 on the request that you've made. I'm on the right page it'll thank. And your your request is different from the Legislative recommendation or the Executive recommendation. And it's to the tune of 359000 I've got that right is that correct. That's what it showing yes okay. What are you not going to be able to do because you're not getting what you're asking for that's different from the legislative or executive recommendation. And a follow up would be why did you ask for that money knowing it didn't go along with the executive elect or legislative recommendation owned or sorry we're not seeing the description on page 50 what paid you all well what which pages are budget on a amendments to. That is what is usually the discrepancy on well I'm if I'm looking at right I'm on page 50 of volume one is that the right page you need to be on volume 2 thank you all right. Rawling budget. There is 300 59 okay dollars in excess appropriation on the sea on the 2023 legislative recommendation column on the bottom table on funding sources thank you maybe talk about that is that correct is that that I'm sorry is that their budget yes okay so the MRI wrong the 3 or 50 9000 is that that's on the funding appropriation. Yes this is excessive preparation for the fiscal year 23 okay let me shift gears and ask another question enter I'm on page 70 then on the inter agency fund transfer. That's on there agency correct sat on their agency. This is the Arkansas public safety trust yes yes okay thank you so what my question then is that transfer money we're where does it go to I know there's a note down on the bottom for the 250000 where it goes for but as far as the other money transferred out is that money literally transferred out to other agencies or help me understand yeah if if I'm following you correctly that that is the money that is transferred out to the public safety answering points around the state is that correct well actually I I think that particular transfer is the 8000000 is what we transfer from this fund to another fund and our agency for the a win program that's part of Act 660 legislation we also the rest of it is transferred to also it transfer the hundred 60 8000 to us for administration of that bond. Okay and the sources of funding is from the fees on the on the telephones is that what you said awhile ago yes Sir okay all right thank you. Senate bill you're recognized thank you Mr just quick question. Have we upgraded all of the systems the 911 system because I remember several years ago we had to do we have been task force US state of the art. Our systems in some places and then you had some that had material that was easily 1000 years old and unable to meet the needs that we upgraded them all of the all where they need to be. What in order to respond to emergencies can we go anywhere in the state and be sure that the system is such that people will get the necessary help any so each of those peace after locally controlled by city or county so with the legislation that was passed in the increase in funding up another part of that was a consolidation that was request to consolidate that you should have received a the consolidation plan the 911 board yup has got the plan together that was submitted so all that is is in the process of taking place the consolidation and that bill and enhance the ability of those smaller towns that we visited they did not have the where with all to deliver emergency services in a timely fashion that will have helped us with that is I think that will help yes ma'am I thank you thank you Mr. All right representative mark berry you're recognized for a question thank you Mr chairman director Gary this funding for new Bedford seismic event the the training exercise's is that federal. Are you do you get federal funding for new madrick seismic. We do we do get some federal funding for the the exercise and training our quite program we get some further federal funding for that okay and were you at on the give me exercise upcoming for for that area. We are we're always having exercises I don't know exactly when the next one is coming up as far as our quake exercising. Rezar want theirs but it's probably been 88 or 10 years such had a major on a national yeah I'm sorry national level yeah. Gosh I'm trying to think of when our last one was 4 years ago about 4 years ago we had national level exercise okay thank you Mr. All right members seeing no other questions will take a motion for executive director. We have a motion and a second any discussion. All in favor say aye. Any opposed it is adopted. Gave research company and you're excused. Colleagues in X. is a law enforcement standards and training Mr Coleman you're recognized thank you Mr chair the law enforcement standards and training appropriation summary can be found on page 82 of your manuals 4.$3000000 total for the commission is divided between 6 appropriations the largest of which is the operations appropriation located on page 84 of your manuals. With minor salary match changes to 46 authorized positions and operating expense changes the operations preparation is slightly less in fiscal year 22 authorized totals just over 3.$5000000 for fiscal year 23 there are no further changes within the Division. All right. Any questions for staff. Any questions for the agency. All right the agency will come before we have questions. Jamie cook secretary department public safety director for the commission on law enforcement standards and training. John Smith CFO public safety okay. Representative mark very or quite you're recognized for a question thank you Mr chairman and director cook I know we've had this conversation or you're I think we're going to try to have a meeting this week but I want to for the record I want to address the issue of law enforcement officers that are. Practicing in a law enforcement capacity on the streets of Arkansas today without any formal training for 9 months to a year I think that we put our communities at risk we put the officer at risk we but the agency at risk any time we have officers that have not had formal training now I would would agree that in the larger counties such as Pulaski Benton County those counties they have formal FTO type training programs for officers get some type of training before they go on the streets of where is the more rural counties in the state of Arkansas get no training they get psychologically tested they can qualify with the weapon you give them a ticket book a vehicle and a gun indocin amount on the streets to protect the citizens of this state so I know at this point the rule says 9 months to a year. I believe we need to get that done it may cost us some more personnel be hired in a leader or in class or whatever but would you agree with me that there is that. Problem there when we have law enforcement officers are approaching vehicles at night without any formal training in today's environment. Thank you representative very appreciate your question yes we do have a meeting tentatively scheduled for Thursday to continue this discussion with the chief of police in the and the sheriffs in the state you know they the. No training at all is is is not act not completely accurate there is a firearms qualification a policy review use of force now As certainly doesn't take the place of going to the academy I think that we do need to consider continue that conversation and I appreciate you of being a part of that and we look forward to visitation about it further on Thursday follow up missed chairman secretary could you and I both know. That. Just qualifying with a weapon in reading of a policy letter on discrimination or profiling is not adequate training to give the officer a firearm to be on the streets of the state of Arkansas per year. Without formal training learning how to approach the vehicles how to if there's a hostage situation taken how is being the first responder on the scene they don't get adequate training and and I understand the struggles that a lot of the county's rule counties have because they don't have the resources to have an FTO training program but we've got to get these officers into a classed program. Senator then a year it's just not it's just not smart we don't put the state police on the highway without formal training. The highway police Little Rock PD a lot of these age they do not put officers in that environment without formal training and I think we need to look seriously at whatever we gotta do to narrow that window down so we're not putting those officers are committee at risk for 4 years. Thank you Mr. Senator Hammer. You're recognized thank you Mr first of all let's talk about the fallen law enforcement officers can you remind me of what. I know what the money is used for but how much is it that the surviving family members receive out of that fund. Thank you senator Hammer they benefit that worse awarding is $5000. Your rainy discussions about increasing that amount of. 2 what what are the discussions around that subject matter any discussion increase in that amount so when I first became director of the benefit amount was $500 and the governor wanted that increased and so now we're doing a $5000 is not written in rule or statute it's up to the discretion of the Commission so certainly that could be a conversation to increase that that's not in our assay so it's been one time funding of 3 the governor so I think that we're going to increase it you would probably need to look at how that's going to be funded you know is consistently throughout. Is this isn't including the funding that they that a farm officers family would get from the state claims commission this is just an immediate benefit to kind of fill the gap between the time that the officers family receive that state benefit and the Federal benefit. Historically the review to see if that's adequate and and I mean there's no amount of money we can put on the situation I get it but 5000 wouldn't even cover burial cost so I'm just wondering have you had based on what actual results are to justify trying to increase that amount what you know I would always. Advocate for you know anything that we can do to to assess the of families of our fallen officers you know 2000 21 showed us the highest increase in deaths for law enforcement officers across this country since 1930 we've had increase over a 300 percent the last 2 years of ambushes of police officers in this country you know there's there there there's a reason I'm passionate about our profession and it is because the very real fact that since 2015 since I was director we had 14 officers of at least 13 more die from covid and those 14 officers of other officers died Levin 11 from felonious deaths 1 from inverted gunfire 1 in a pursuit and 1 in a crisis and those are real numbers and those are real people I don't know how we put a an amount on that immediate benefit that we give but I'm always going to advocate for investing in you know helping them best we can in these terrible times all right let's do this about for you to the actual fiscal session which have a discussion about that and and see and then the second question is down on the shared services transfer what's that what was that money transferred for and what was the value you assigned to the amount of money it was transferred. Thank you senator Hammer hope I'm looking at the right one I'm on 82. I have a very specific percentages of. If I can find it in my notes senator which one. The 49. The percentages that the percentage that was shared our or transferred to shared from class is 6.13 percent. Can you may break down what what that was I mean what you sent over 4 it was it's mostly all 4 of the positions that we pulled from class into the shared services and report our HR function are physical function and our IT function in our legal function in to shared services can you can you state that that has. Benefited you any or and if so how has it or how has it not I know that my bill awkward but I kinda like to know what the benefits of your you realize started doing that or have you realized any benefits I think we've I think we've seen just some phenomenal benefits of it and it's just basically sharing those resources you know prior to transformation we had a standalone HR department fiscal department I. T. department and legal department for class and it's a very small agency but with a huge responsibility so being able to to pull those functions and to share service others back up there's not a stand alone silo at class which we we were headquartered in Camden so that kind of made it a little bit more difficult to sell R. I. T. R. I. T. Rohlik classed up prior to transformation was a was one and so now that one he's still he's still stationed in Adelaide in Camden but he has the resources of all of these other I. T. members that he can call on when we have a situation with our R. M. S. R. L. in mass or when we have a tornado that hits the the campus which we actually had so so that he's able to call on those of other I. T. support you know function to to help him and I think that's been the benefit is just being able to share those resources for little departments like class who you know had a physical function of 2 but you see a huge responsibility you know so so the legal function we were able to share that with our other legal attorneys like we got a kind of behind on the certifications and so we asked some of the other DPS attorneys to help us and we were able to have a 2 day meeting and get some of those hearings done and so that those that's been the benefit that I see from a small agency director being able to share those resources with the state police and crime lab a CIC and being able to really pull on those resources to help us when we get into those bonds and also not having to have those standalone functions. Okay thank you thank you Mr. Senator Blake Johnson you're recognized this could I guess I guess I'm I'm may be sideways general very on this one. Maybe a small community who went to the city or town marshal and he's part time because the county couldn't cover city ordinances and you know they might be property ordinances or other other things like that that they were trying to to enforce with the county department could and forces for the small town in in our in our legislation this past year this is this individual is a retired employee of the military and there's no consideration and he would have to go through training to be considered a police the as a officer for for this small community. The. And. I mean it's not like he's going to be involved in high speed chases or are doing things like that he there's there is trying to enforce their their city ordinances through this town marshal system and and going to be required training. Is that correct. What we do have reciprocity with military police select turning absolutely would be accepted we at the reciprocity rule for military is the same as if someone was coming from another state and our state it's all 110 hour class 80 hours of that is on line 30 2:00 hours of that my math may be off a little bit but I think that's correct 30 2:00 hours of that's done at the Department also Alita all 3 of our campuses do have those classes a few times a year so he can give me a call but I don't know if that information that he's received is is an accurate or what but we are reciprocal with military police so 80 hours on line 30 hours offline. For a part time job it is that makes sense to you all part time okay so part time officer in Arkansas as an officer that works less than 2004 hours a week and full time is considered over 2004 hours so over 2004 hours you have to go the full police academy part time officers and auxiliary officers all reciprocal of refresher type training it's all captured in that 0 and 10:00 hours and so I think it's yeah I think it's it's I think it's adequate for someone has parked prior experience the 0 10:00 hours okay thank you thank you. Thank you senator we have no other questions your. I have a motion executive wrecked. A second any discussion all in favor say aye opposed. Thank you Mr cook. Guards used. Next we're going to the Arkansas state police Risco when you're recognized thank you Mr chair on page 96 of your manuals you'll see the preparation summary for the division of Arkansas state police. Television preparations just over $135000000 for fiscal year 23 there's several change overs within the Department the first being on page one of 2 of your manual within homeland security federal appropriation I think I probably decrease from $168000 to $126000 for the continued purchase of bomb seeds and other equipment is needed. The change levels can be found on page one of 4 in the automatic fingerprint identification system appropriation. The Leslie recommendation for fiscal year 23 here includes a $200000 increase in operating expenses and nearly 1.$5000000 increase in capital outlay appropriation for software upgrades to the system. Sorry. For the next of the next person look at it as a SP operations on page one of 6 apart from this light salary in match adjustments there is and your $70000 increase in operating expenses nearly $170000 increase in professional fees and a $150000 decrease in capital outlay remaining capital outlay appropriation. Of 226000 will be used for things like replacing aging canines filing systems unmanned aerial vehicles in a firearm training simulator. The legislative recommendation for the entire SP operations of preparation just over $97000000 in fiscal year 23. About the grant funded various federal programs appropriation on page one of 8 in your manuals includes a $27680 increase in capital outlay for new server blade and forensic workstation. Entire preparations over $3000000 for the various federal programs preparation and actually on page 110 there's 1 capital outlay change within the confiscated funds transfer appropriation needs to under $60000 requested in capital outlay will be used to acquire crime scene scanners and firing range equipment. Page 112 shows the final change levels within the division of state police this time of the criminal background checks appropriation in early 60000 additional dollars of capital outlay preparation the legislative recommendation for fiscal year 23 we use for live scans and servers the preparation totals just over 4.$4000000 Mr chairman this concludes the presentation change levels when as part of public safety. Any questions for Mister Coleman. Okay we'll bring agency for. I will identify sales we have questions waiting on you Jamie cook secretary department public safety. Bill Bryant director the Arkansas state police. All right our first question representative Cavenaugh. Thank you Mr chair over here to the right I'm going to be dealing on page one of 4 to begin with its the automated fingerprint. System you have a fund balance of 11.$2000000. What are we doing with this money. Thank you ma'am of the reserve fund balances so big it's actually combined funds we have a. Hello make sure take your right here sure the balance the with 526. And this is a 345 we're looking at but it is strictly limited to bind us stuff for guardian of. I office in that type of equipment there and it is a carryover balance okay. If it's this high and we can only use it is it something where we could look at reducing some face because you've got at a for your expenses you've got a huge fund balance. Yes ma'am what we have done is we're moving over to the Kalau this the runs about 1.3000000 a year for the next several years so we're gonna use that fund balance to fund the cloud services. Well if it's for a 3 years 1.3000000 is not going to take care of the Levin point 2000000 that's in the fund balance. It's 1.3 year for the I believe is the next 7 years is that correct. And then we also uses to buy things like live scans deferred equipment pertaining to avis mobile aphis so different a quick advise with this fun also. Okay. If you don't mind if you could send me some information about the cloud system that you're going to be looking into and also on 106 you have a a fund balance of 14.$6000000. To the. 519. 106 yes ma'am yes. And your question again please ma'am you're showing that you have a fund balance of 14.$6000000. What are you doing with that fund balance yes service our main operations accounts we do things like we purchase vehicles different things like that and for example the professional fees that's up this year because this is a 23 will be a promotional testing year to where we have to conduct assessment centers things like that but this is our main account here. Representative Cavenaugh this is also are holding account for the state police health insurance which is the vast majority of that fund accounts all right thank you. All right Senator Hester you're recognized. Thank you director Brad I know that we recently or in the process of purchasing a new helicopter concealed was older and or with that same mindset with the the state planes or planes in good condition they need every builds on just it's significant amounts of funds do you have any information on the. On on the plains of the State has we're we have a look at some grants on trying to for the helicopter different things like that but you know our our planes are still functional we're looking at upgrading summer technical equipment especially on our cameras and GPS that upon our helicopter and airplanes a helicopter we use that almost everyday assist the state local agency so we were looking to upgrade that kind of camera system but will definitely if you look at new helicopters you looking at 1011 $0 it's it's very expensive. Thank you. Red Springer you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair good morning everyone I'm looking at your appropriations on page. 102. And 106 I noticed that I understand you to say with respect to conferences and travel expenses and professional fees that you're having a year for promotions and that sort of thing so that speaks to the reason for the increase in the amount of the Legislative recommendation and the executive branch recommendation I see these amounts or. Okay memory on page 1 of 2 hello everyone I'm all I'm a 2102 and 1 of 6 so we'll start want to yes ma'am so you have. You have conference and travel fees the actual budget for 2021 was 16000 300 46 the recommendation goes up to almost $200000 and I was just asking her to serve earlier that you thought that some of that increase for conference and travel expenses. I had to do with promotional. Registrant. That 2021 is it actual spent that's not that's not the budget right I understand okay they're budgeting 100 91 right in there the ending 22. 23 their budget 196 so it's gone up. Yes ma'am okay I'm following you all right yes ma'am this is part of the homeland security of our fusion center we do what's called has has low conferences homeland security also worried about liaisons through state local agencies throughout the state the last year we didn't have any because of co with yes why the increase you'll see this year will be doing more his low conferences it also allows our people to fusion center to attend conferences and get specialized training to work in the fusion center. Follow up with the chair Page 106 look again under conferences and travel expenses of specialties please explain the increase for those above the 2020. Yes ma'am 23 every 2 years as part of a promotion process we test for sergeant lieutenant and we we hire professional or do a contract with PSI basically what we do is we have a written test for examinations and we also have what we call assessment center where we bring in other state police agencies throughout the state to conduct this the assessment center to evaluate our candidates for promotion in their score there so we responsible for the lodging food and and per diem for all those other agencies we bring in to conduct a assessments are I have a question Mr how many promotions are you expected for this year. Ma'am it's it's hard to to dictate that out. For example last commission meeting only made one promotion it was a sergeant but as we lease people the resignations retirements that can fluctuate it I'd say anywhere from 15 to 20 promotions but keep in mind that the sergeant only 10 is the only ones that we do as far as receive test scores from captain major lieutenant colonel that's all selection of the director of the Commission. Thank you. Thank you representative of representative wouldn't you're 19 you're recognized thank you Mr chairman I have several questions first of all can you explain to me on my. Information I have here you have 1041 positions authorized. But only 280 of them are budgeted for healthcare benefits I. I guess this of bill you in the uniform they handled differently and how how or how is their health care taken care of yes for the of the the uniform we call central personality the troopers the L. examiners and the radio operators they are eligible for health care the agency pays health care for the that employee spouse and family the others records of employees use a state insurance program that that is one great benefit we have for our troopers so. Follow so it so the the the the healthcare for the trooper is handled differently and paid differently yes ma'am yes Sir we are self insured the Arkansas state police is for the troopers okay the essential personnel described you have a follow up you have 148 positions vacant what representative that is for troopers that you can our I haven't been able to hire. Also you have 7 you have 100 48 positions that were vacant on the first day of January yes from from my notes here as of January twelfth twenty twenty two I have 500 25 commission officers on the job we have 61 vacant budget positions for troopers that does not include the 39 that we actually get ready started preschool there next week so those 39 of those 61 will be filled we first. Concerning the recruitment attention we started with 49 troopers that we did appear before the commission to certify but since that time we've had 10 drop out so as you understand being with state police before at this position the trooper in Texas are process usually takes 5 months once we get started we you know we recruit we have initial contact she then we give them a written exam that is a PT test if they pass through that next they come through the background polygraph and then go through interviews with staff and also the director and then upon certification list and after that they have to do the psychological and health screening so it's a lengthy process it takes is 5 months our troop. Follow from a. A relative to the governor's recommendation on increasing the starting salary can what what it what was refresh my memory what was the dollar amount that was going on calls I believe a 7.4000000 Sir 7 the governor proposed which already is work for us okay what other adjustments are you making any grade adjustments for Los troop resentment out there 5 years and 10 years I'm just talking about troopers I'm not talking about the upper echelon right what we're looking at is I believe we talked a little bit last time when the governor posted would basically try to get the starting salary up to between 52 and 50 5000 right now it's 40 to 357 when I first came the Director 2015 we're paying our troopers 30 $4000 a year but it's we did a study when I testified for state police game and fish the request we do a study and we were pretty much in the bottom percent of all the other state police agencies we surveyed and I have the list agencies we did but our goal is to get our stories are between 52 and 55 what we have done in the past is we really did not recognize years of service timing great and and what that resulted in this some of our corporals are making more in our sergeants that are the same guy Maddin sergeant long time a guy gets promoted only been sergeant 1 year he's making more that sergeant at 8 years so things were really looking at it trying to tie down I know secretary cook in our HR people with GPS is being closely working with opium to try to avoid these issues there of compression so if we can get our salaries to 54 to 55 that would be historic would be very competitive you that would put us behind Texas it is you've not talked before I testified before a 5 year trooper Texas makes a hundred thousand dollars a year. That's basically because what they do is if for example I was with the federal government the EIA down there they do the same thing they paid or to persons call availability pay so every week they get 10:00 hours overtime. So that's how they they they. Their overtime system works that way so that gives in the treatment tremendous boost in salary but as you can see Arkansas we're making 42357 Eckford troopers south Arkansas can go to Texas DPS in 5 years make $100000 we're gonna lose every time but again this is historic for us I think it sends a clear message that we value our troopers 1 thing I will share I know Jamie **** scared some of share some of the statistics but since June of this year or last year to now we have 4 troopers fired upon and that's been historic for me since I've been here 7 going on 8 years the violence is up against police officers our people do historic things every day that nobody ever hears about so I will tell you the men and women out there earning their money they do a great job they're committed to the job but they have family support just like you and I do they have kids you know it would be great we get that salary we don't have to worry we have a lot of trips work second jobs and able to to to feed their families if we're able to get that salary up it and be competitive that would be a huge shot the our for our troopers who do they risk their life every day they go out there. Okay follow up with the money can you can you share anything about the Florida system where they're offering hello Amendment several $0 to come down there to be a trooper our police officer and Florida yes we look at that I believe the governor floor offered a $5000 bonus and some local agency here in Arkansas are doing the same thing we've we talked to several agents have done it the first year attracted people second year with that much but that is that's a one time bonus but we're looking at is we're going to our troopers we get this this PAYPLAN system that that's something's going to give is not. One time a year this is something that's going to be in their paycheck able support their family let us know the state of Arkansas cares because you look at the average lifespan of a police officer compared average citizen it's just a tremendous difference you know most law enforcement officers died early so I think this is just a huge investment and I think the only benefits to state police but I think the governor was spot on when he said if if we do this that is an example for county in cities to do the same thing that their body of government will support in the same way that the legislatures want to support us one more fall I'll be done Mr chairman what is the average throughout the region Oklahoma Texas Arkansas Louisiana the the average starting salary. Give me one second I'll tell you Sir. I can give you the right floor starts at 38 in Texas DPS goes the 59 that's their entry. So this the wait if we will get to this 52 to 55 pay range we talk about that with the second. For the Arkansas Mison is that for the sergeant's orders of protection for the trooper for the true go up again these qualities to the 55 the trooper to the major lieutenant colonel colonel not gonna raise at this we're trying to take care of our lower in people I think I'll look as to secure that we've got. Your true trooper to trooper first class is 4.5 years and then from trooper first class to corporal is 3 years I think 7 half years to be a corporal in the majority I think up probably 45 to 50 percent or 7 years and I under so we're young young ages okay thank you Mr chairman thank you corrector thank you Miss madam secretary. Senator Hammer you're recognized thank you do you happened NO right off how many Arkansas troopers you've lost that have gone over to Texas to work. I can think of to serve that I'm aware of but you know you talked earlier about exit interviews we do I'm also. You know now this is a tremendous amount of pressure a law enforcement some of the the staff not only salaries an issue people lady but it's just you know they have a more stable they can work 8 to 5 it and a lot less stress some good work for all company had one leave before to the cut here to be a barber you can make more money be a part of the country for so it's different reasons why people leave okay and the second thing is refresh my memory with all the dealings with the concealed carry permit and you know the changes what's the what's the impact this fiscal cycle in your budget as far as the fees associated with conceal carry yes we look at that the number concealed carry permits are dying on you know we pass there you'll pass the bill the last US regular session giving veterans the a free deal we're projecting we will be better $0 $900000000 and this year I concealed handgun fees for you making up for that in your budget well we have some other special revenues are coming in lots of higher that we didn't anticipate so we're covering the the all I think is what we decide as a nation will look at it if it needs to be addressed in the next biennium then we'll do it right now we're going to monitor and see how it goes what other special revenue streams are up that are covering the gap in. I think a. It's one that you have sponsor the over the sorry. Go ahead my mind going the when they don't pay their tax tax got you got that one driver's record bill also the of real time insurance verification those are some that are coming in ahead of time and also summer deal revenues coming in board DO people find for driver's license that's up all right you don't anticipate those going down as far as long term I mean the it's enough to compensate for the 0 loss but the revenue streams that you're becoming depend upon DO anticipate those going down we'll have to closely monitor especially the tax cut off thing you know some years and once officially hopefully it'll be 0 that people pay their those fines and and and and you know it'll come go back down the right now steady but we we pretty much monitored every quarter financial people to see where we're at and correct me if I'm wrong that's I think that's one of the challenges of your agencies is you get depended upon revenue streams that fluctuate up and down or we come in as a legislative branch and do something that directly impact your budget I'm I'm questioning the model that you're so heavily dependent upon various fees and other streams of income in order to sustain your budget versus doing something else you gotta. Response to that. Yes Sir B. graves all generate a new but that's not the way the state budget set up judge we landed on state revenue are special revenues thank you. Representative mark where you're recognized for a question Mister chairman and thank you director Bryan into the the battalion of troopers that you you brought with you today but you know that United States Army about 70 percent of the population of recruiter bowl ages cannot qualify to be in the United States Army just exactly the problem that the Arkansas state police has because it had brushes with the law of physical fitness or whatever so you know what the United States Army decided to do last just last week. No decided to pay a $50000 bonus because they cannot recruit enough men and women into the United States Army not saying that we need to they are troopers $50000 but we need to do something about their pay so and let's look at your your numbers on your trooper schools I know back in 2018 yes are nearly 550 trooper applicants in this most recent class I believe it was a 226 that correct yes Sir that's correct the number of applicants okay so you have a attrition rate of about 30 percent so you've got to 39 is going to start school so you're probably gonna lose about 9 based on historical numbers correct yes Sir so what do you what do you attribute that low numbers of applicants all the way from 2013 going from 1373 applicants all the way down to 226 what what what would you attribute that to I thank you cannot say it's one silver bullet I think pay has a lot to do with it I think the increase scrutiny of law enforcement is another factor you know for example of gunfire breaks out of the parking parking lot right now I think mostly I would go that way in every trooper this room would go that way you know you they put their lives on the line every day you gotta make split second decisions and do we get it right all the time no we don't we're robots but we do make a mistake we own it we trained to fix that mistake and go for it but that's that that's a lot of pressure on a person but you know I see it on a daily basis what the strippers do for example we had in the last couple months we've had people going the wrong way on the interstate or drunk and I've seen the troopers take their cars in it these cars had owned a stop on to protect the citizens of Arkansas they put their life on the line every day to protect the citizens in and they don't know who they are you know the citizens are you can you call state police they're going to answer the bill they're going to come out and they're gonna come and and per. So I think you know 1 of our goals and strategic plans would be the highest paid agency would be the most professional agency which I think we are but that those are some of the factor increase law enforcement I'm just on a conference call with the ICP international association chiefs of police with the southern region of S. and P. which is all the kernels in the southern region we're not the only 1 struggling with manpower 11 state tell me that they lost 150 troopers last year some people are 200 250 troopers down you know we're all competing for the same person not only in different states but here locally I mean the police departments and sheriff's departments want to find the best recruits and subway so I mean I testified in the game and fish and state police subcommittee we're working in a crisis I mean what we have to we have to really step in this state and in respect for law enforcement support 100 percent get their salaries up and I think that'll make a huge difference force out there I think once we get this plan to the legislature approves it we will see these numbers go up tremendously. Thank you Director and one final question Mister chairman on you know talking about the troopers out on the highways as provided for the safety and security of the citizens of the state I know what what can you tell me I know but can you tell the committee please the number of traffic tickets at the Arkansas state police has issued in the year 2020 vehicles going over 100 miles an hour plus yes we we turn this is aggravated driving any any speeds of 100 plus miles an hour of the year before Kobe we only wrote 1002 years ago we wrote 2000 and this year worker we wrote 2400 and something tickets for 100 plus miles an hour we're seeing speeds 5260 miles an hour. Thank you director thank you. Senator Mark Johnson you're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman of current this a little bit of a follow up on Senator hammers questioning by the criminal background check Page 112. Yeah I'd look at the numbers it's I'm sure there's a good answer but if you could please help me figure this out of. In FY 21 you're 14 position she dropped 13 positions and that's across the board staying with your recommendations everything but he has significant increase for 22 for operating expenses and of the the capital outlay after and it could be that the reason you've been able to get by with one less employees some technology or something that was in the 21 capital outlay but of. I I don't I know you all get we don't always think of everything that's covered under criminal background check and I know the issue came up during the. Last petition drives and where the the solicitors for petition signatures had questions do they pass a background check or not but I'm the fact that you have significant increase in 22 and that's kinda stay pretty close to the same of is there some. Larger responsibility within the overall job it shall have to do is in on the criminal background checks that has either spiked or otherwise contributed to this additional expense I realized the we we did that we the General Assembly did part of that by giving the the certain people some breaks on the the cost of the. Concealed carry permits but you could you just to limit M. elaborate a little bit more detail about the trend and where the the additional expense news coming from. Make sure I understood your question all respondent thank secretary could by the response also we you know some of those the fees for that are set like by the FBI that we have to pay home FBI fees we have no wiggle room in that I think the others also set by statute that what we get it and ACICS we're trying to be more efficient in in regulatory to to address this and in different sections but the our regulatory Division it's it's it's carry so much on this the cruel history different things like private security license just a rug call it of things that we do required criminal history so we're trying to get better matter fact of we use the term channel in this lean sigma 6 to look at our regulatory division make some improvements on how we can be more efficient and in that area. Okay and and madam secretary if you have anything to add certainly be interested in your comment as well. I think colonel bright carpet covered it pretty good the operating expenses out of 526 is also where we pay of the fed the fed's their portion of the of criminal history background check fee like a today we pay them 130 $1000 last year we paid 1.3 $8000000 sell a lot of that money comes in and goes right back out to the feds to receive $11.25 of that fee and we received around $2 or something it was $2 of the FBI gets $11.25. Okay the would you both please share with us any thing we need to do statutorily to sort of smooth this over because it's anytime we're dealing with a special revenue situation it's not always just preparation sometimes agencies have cash flow issues so please let us know if there's anything we can do to help on this and thank you both for the job we do thank you Mr. Senator Elliot you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair Kerr our current Bryant. It may be a budgetary matter or not but are how are you we doing with recruiting for example say more women of people of color and if and letting us know that it's a matter of competition when it comes to the budget because people many times those categories of salt highly sought after so many times how is that affecting us yes ma'am we do several things first and foremost our last can be class we had 4 women graduate which we're very excited about I think we have 3 this time uh what we are our recruiters are or both AfricanAmerican we focus on minority recruitment we we go to minority colleges we also recruit to military bases different things like that to try to recruit minority applicants up I believe the last number I looked at agency wide per by 15 percent African American and then 4 percent other diversity so we try to expand the gamut and you know we want diversity in our workforce we think it's very important so those are things that we're focusing on and trying to get more minority applicants. So how are we doing in terms of I would assume there are goals of. That we are trying to meet a week meeting also have we set goals are are there issues that get in the way of our being able to do better than we're doing that you are aware of the anyway was it just going swimmingly that is that's great no of course the more you get it be great if we have our 2025 percent minority we would love that you know RAC little different other law enforcement we are R. PT test is is is pretty stringent we lose some people are are physical fitness training will have we changed our written exams we had a higher failure rate but the system was we change that we're seeing that make great improvements the number of a prospective applicants who can pass the test so we're doing everything we can to try to get the most qualified applicant but not sacrifice the quality so. Those tests that you mentioned are are you saying that those test get in the way home for somehow curtail the ability to. Get the focus of the but I just mentioned to apply a or to be successful in getting into the ranks were no ma'am the test we set is certified in court that we can you know that is certified its job apple skills where somebody just make make you run a mile point 5 into somebody push ups and sit ups we would call an R. Pat test is more job description available and we test our people on the front end and that that for them percent to proceed you know they have to be physically fit when they come to the county because of what we see if they're if they're not in shape 23 days later they break down physically then couple days later mentally so you know we want people to be in shape so those are the standards we use for example I'm 65 years old and I just took the test I passed so you know it's just it's an incentive for personal you know we're not eating the trying to weed out but we need if you're out there on the street we expect to be physically fit to services and I can understand that but let me back up into my question again because I'm not understanding. All that you just talked about I assume would apply to anybody who is who who is attempting to you know to be a part of the ranks regardless of whether they're women or people of color whatever so I look at that is that applies to anybody and. How was is that conversation relevant to people who are. A person of color or woman is not in any kind of discreet way relevant to those groups of folks as opposed to just a whole ranks because we we we're not into this conversation to ask about that until I ask about the recruitment people of color and women. What does that have to do with is what I'm trying to be sure I understand what does that have to do with recruiting people of color it doesn't mean I'm just saying we have a standard on the PT tests that we expect everybody doesn't matter what your sex or you're racing is that you have to meet that standard so that I can get back to my question so that because that because that's off the table as far as I'm concerned I'm not question and any of that yes ma'am my question why because that would be about everybody you my question was if there are any and discreet issues that you have for with recruiting women recruiting people of color like for example our recruiting people who are speak another language on that kind of thing are there issues regarding getting folks like that into the ranks and keeping them there. Of the people in recruitment retention I think you know the seller would have a big benefit but law enforcement it's a different kind of job you know for people have language skill we do pay an extra money they do get the acts for salary you know law enforcement is a tough job I'm sorry to see more women come along which is correct which I'm very happy about but I don't think any of those specifically limit it's just you know I think nationwide you're seeing people less people plot for this job. When the best people apply for the job are we getting what you would consider or like to see a well rounded representation of the population than when the best people apply for these jobs are we getting people that I'm asking you about. Yes we we make every effort to. I'm I'm I know I know this is please don't is that is this is nothing other than I'm trying to figure out. We make the effort all we've been successful because I think successful depends on what we all do to be helpful to make that happen so it's not just I'm not just making this try to make this about you or anybody else yes ma'am I'm just trying to figure out I think everyone of our agencies we should do everything we can to be sure is reflective of the population and is not till State Police insp anybody. Are we reflective of the population as you would want it to be or that you think it needs to be. As I make sure I would love to see our minority rate the diversity come up I think we're using every tool that we know how we're open to suggestions if it's any other but of course we like more diversity and that's all I'm asking that you not right there because that really is it's it's that's that's the simple thing I'm asking is if there are things we can all do to be helpful that we should all do some things be helpful but we don't know until we know the answer to that question is always trying to get it yes ma'am okay thank you thanks messaging. Senator Ballinger you're recognized. Thank you Mr I appreciate what you guys are doing with the pay raise the job of law enforcement generals but never been harder than what what we have today and obviously we need him and and we're gonna do whatever can't get on one of the things that I as well I'm wondering if you have taken in consideration what the impact will be on retaining local law enforcement officer so more than likely as we as we get the officers up to the the number that we we want within the state police. More these also going to come from city police you know the county deputies all that kind of so that we take into consideration what we may be doing to local law enforcement bye bye even offering more was state police. That's a good question Mister Ballinger I thank as I said before I think the governor hit right on the spot we we need to change the culture of government to recognize how important that is I'll give an example when I started law enforcement 1976 I was a university policeman 2 years later I went over to the house for police department work there another 6 years and I went to work for the Drug Enforcement stress every person in law enforcement wants to move up the ladder the state police has a lot to offer you know by statute we are a assist agency but what I think what we're seeing is a lot more request for the state police expression the smaller departments they'll have expertise so you know I think everybody it gets or start law enforcement I think their goal is to move up to a better agency but I you know I would encourage the in the county governments and in the city councils and things like that to to follow model to to to raise the pay and retain their officers I thank the governor spot only said that okay thank you. Senator garner you in Senator Flippo state yes Sir I am trying to recognize Senator Garner thank you I appreciate your coming L. as.cotton so to come in as a couple questions I'm a follow up on a Senator Ballinger is point there I know you keep some of the government's spot on with that question but reality is we're seeing a spike in crimes with the local PD and across state many of these cities and aren't you going to create incentive structure for people to move on that from those local PT's which can't compete with this I know what you're saying about encouraging the city council's reform quarter increase their pay but encourages one thing to some of the places a self Arkansas probably can't increase their budget because they're losing people every year and have a less of a budget for public safety and secondly. If they make that decision or maybe political consequences to we can't and can't anticipate every city or county or every quorum quarter every governor agency also increase their pay so if we have 10 police officers and 7 a move to state police we still have 10 police officers for a certain amount area I'm happy to move the state police to stay in this state but would it make sure. Falsely make more sense as us as a state to do some kind of broader overall structure there are plan on how we recruit retain police officers and their salaries across the board would that be a better uses of resources or do you think that just focus on state police as is the better way to go about that. I think it's a very complex issue first you know it's director the state police I'll you know I'll income of men and women the state police to to go to work form I think that is something the legislature to address as a whole.