ALC-PEER

All this meeting to order. First order of business today is to suspend the rules so that we can hear the supplemental agenda do I have a motion and a second for that. The motion second all in favor aye opposed nay. Thank you madam chair the first section of the agenda is section B. these are various temporary appropriation requests. First item B. one is a letter from the Department of Parks heritage tourism it's request to increase the preparation by a hundred seventy six thousand to their shared services section new spending thirty will allow the department to accommodate the operating costs of the newly created Arkansas office of outdoor recreation and its advisory board. Next item B. two is a letter from the Arkansas school for the blind this is requesting Peace corporation by seventeen thirty four thousand the Senator Eddie would allow the school to spend carryover funds from the previous fiscal year the letter says the funds going to a special maintenance account it would be used to resolve an abundance of issues the school facing letter also explains the school did not anticipate large of carryover funds but this is a consequence of distributing category the funds from Marseille on the last day the fiscal year. Next I'll be three the letter from the department education school for the deaf and so much the last item the school for the deaf is also requesting a preparation to spend carryover funds to address maintenance issues a school for the deaf requested hundred fifty seven thousand it's being authority. Next item before is a letter from the department of labor licensing it's requests increase preparation by a hundred fifty thousand you spent forty will allow the department to replace for us replace for vehicles in the H. fact division. I'm sure those are all very soon preparation quests. Thank you do I have any questions on any of these items. I see no questions Senator had a motion to approve. Motion and a second all in favor say aye opposed nay motion carries move on to item C.. Thank you mensch's section seeing are the carers appropriation requests the first item C. one is a letter from the department Human Services this request increase their preparation by six point three million spindles care funds Spinney thirty would be used to support unreimbursed costs of assisted living facilities next item C. two is a letter from division of workforce services this request is for sixteen million the cares funds will be used to cover salary match costs have increased due to the pandemic. Next item C. three is a letter from the department corrections and this is for seven point five million the fund to be used to pay overtime expenses that have increase as a result of turnover the letter also explains the department has been paying overtime each pay period as opposed quarterly. Next item C. four is a letter from the from a disbursing officer this is requesting Peace preparation by nineteen point five billion is for seven different projects is personalized requires any authority to distribute funds for the Arkansas hunger relief alliance the Division of workforce services harbor house in Fort Smith natural state recovery centers river valley medical wellness the public library system answer reimburse agencies for purchase of pre approved items. Thank you Mr chair you have any questions on any of these items. It's not sure. Give me just a. Okay you're good Senator Jett I thank you madam chair I'd like to speak with someone from Human Services about these two appropriation. Please state your name for the record. Thank you madam chair more quite warm Human Services. Could you talk to me about the grants and aid portion of your request. For assisted living yes ma'am so have in over the past couple of years so we have had a several cares Act also arpa appropriations of going to assist nursing homes and hospitals what we didn't lard and talking assisted living facilities they've had some similar issues that they struggle with getting staff in the door they struggle keeping staff enforce they've had to increase what they pay to staff in the same time they sing their senses number is affected by the pandemic I am checking for assisted living what they have seen is there seen fewer private pay patients their Medicaid patients are not dropping as much as that's created a real physical issue for this that's not my question my question is about the grants and aid. Explain to me what the grants and aid are being used for and how people access the grants and aids transaction of in Walkley sure it'll be going to the assisted living facility is only based on the number of Medicaid clients they served in the month of January twenty twenty one because we wanted was a system that would provide funds to ensure access for the facilities to serve larger numbers of Medicaid clients and so we took January twenty twenty one as a proxy to see basically how many Medicaid clients does this facility should we serve mark how did they get the grants they submit an application form to us and they shot they confirmed to us how many Medicaid clients they had and and I January twenty twenty one and they provide to us their payroll data they paid through the pandemic and the last match or is just a complete reimbursement just a complete reimburse all right thank you that clarifies thank you so much miss madam chair. Our members you have to bear with me I've got a screen here that has no names on it I think check mark somewhat figure out who's a a. Next question I will go ahead let us senator. Senator Dismang. Just a quick question on and this is for use public libraries. Smart. Mark if you don't mind stay there and we'll get to Senator Dismang in just a moment Senator Hammer you have a question. Thank you measure this is on actual expenses are paid out the door correct correct and did this account for the possibility of all the assisted living making application and is a sufficient amount amount of money to cover. What would have been all you know if all assisted living to ask for reimbursement during that period yes we figure the total amount based on the total number Medicaid beneficiaries or serving January twenty twenty one and so it yes or that should be sufficient to cover that for all the facilities that are eligible thank you thank you Mr. Thank you I do have a question on in the cares Committee the steering committee I did ask a question and one of the things I know that assisted livings although I have tried in the past they don't do cost reports or anything like that. Can you guarantee me that what when we pay this so much permit in its Medicaid bad debts it's going to be for salaries above what is considered normal so I want to make sure that you know we're not reimbursing all salaries but salaries that are above like say two thousand nineteen or two thousand eighteen it's the way the proposals drafted it was just for their salary expenses all together during the pandemic and so and they'll go out to report that to us to provide documentation of what those total salary expenses are the rational though is in terms of setting the amount was we looked at what was provided to nursing homes on a permanent basis and this is roughly equivalent to one of the earlier request we had for nursing homes and that's what we're trying to keep keep that equity there okay where the word nursing homes and hospitals that did they not have to account for that the money was above and beyond ordinary expenses and that it was COVID related not a cell with their there were situations where they could look at all of their expenses during the period of time to get reimbursement for that okay thank you. Any other questions for DHS what we have been here. R. C. nine thank you thank you. All right Senator Dismang you're recognized it just a quick question on the four point eight million for libraries no number one how's that gonna be dispersion also if I'm looking at the description we're get specific it's about PP plexi glass cleaning supplies. At the filters I mean there's lots of things that men if we haven't bought those already were well behind the curve so or the are we seeking reimbursement okay these funds spent or what what are we doing with the hopefully you have the you have the same spreadsheet that I'm looking at we have two categories that are actually reimbursements those are for PPT and related items extra cleaning supplies those types of things libraries have submitted receipts for those so those are hard numbers right there okay also the same way with the ebook expenditures E. books have been a tremendous a pandemic response because they there is there is absolutely zero human intervention that's required for someone to check out and return an ebook and so these are expenditures at the libraries have already taken on since March twenty twenty and the final category is the ordered items to be received of before December thirty first and those some of those are B. B. E. type things those are have the filters and things like that that the libraries they haven't really had any any extra funding to help them absorb those costs and they've been of the. You know it absorbing the cost of they've already expended for the PP reimbursements but there are additional things that I need and I may be missing we have that that spreadsheet that she's referencing okay if we can get a copy of that spreadsheet our staff and then we'll get that out I'd I would be curious look through that certainly so thank you very much. Thank you. I have someone in the queue representative Dotson you're recognized thank you madam chair just on that state library so you're saying they hadn't requested any reimbursement up to this point in a year and a half that's correct. They've they've been absorbing those costs. And then College as a walk in a minute late and may not be for this one but the DFA disbursing. Is. That's that's the one that we're on right now okay the three million dollars there What what does that cover what are the pre approved items by state agencies. That that we're discussing here. let me refer to my list there are a lot of the things our PP of filters of paper paper towel dispensers the utensils paper towel dispensers There are of book drops for for remote returns to the library protective glass also there are a few requests for. wifi routers and extenders actually I think it's the next one up to four point eight million for libraries but the three million dollar defense personnel okay I think we're through with libraries for now so thank you very much. Although we appreciate your explanation if you would introduce yourself please for the record Melanie hi slip with the department of finance and administration the pre approved items is a list that's during committee committee approved back at the beginning of carers it includes items like mask gloves thermometers it even includes ionization units which is the primary purpose for this DO see has purchased some minus action units for their specific duties and this will allow us to fully reimburse them for that cost which is included in the pre approved items list and it's also part of the Kerr sacked so this dollars is just going as far as it will go on that pre approved items list or yes Sir we currently have. Have a dollar amount there and I'm sorry I don't know that exact amount we can get that for you this will be added to that and will be the last of the pre approved items that we will reimburse state agencies for which the the care sector ends on December thirty first if you can get that list of what this three million dollars is going to that would be great this three million will go towards the ionization units at the DO say units Department of Community okay thank you okay. All right I've got one more person in the queue I can't. A representative Wardlaw you're recognized can I get DHS back to the table yes thank you. Thank you. Please try again for the record mark what are you services thank you madam chair on this cares money is coming distributed to assists elevens is there a. Approved cost list or it will there be records of what the money is spent on. It is thank you for what they spend those funds on no Sir the the only requirement is they have to document the payroll expenses they've already incurred and they were sent to reimbursing them for that is the senses reimbursement they could use those funds for whatever needs they may have. Okay so when this money went to the hospitals into the nursing homes and other medical facilities in the past they had a document every single thing line item they spent on I was assured last week that that would also take place here so what you're saying right now is that's not going to take place. Well let me let me review means right now we're on the record so this is what will matter. They I mean they are required as one of the requirements of the proposal after the test that the expenditures they make are necessary to address the pandemic and the needs described in here so that it yes Sir as I read this expenditures directly related to the public health emergency okay Endo's expendable B. audit by DHS or by Mager who we've provided in the form they can be operated by all those by DHS by omega force by the fence as well okay thank you madam chair. Thank you real quick a market one question I think I've or one request I've got for you I'd like to see that the the request form You know I not I'm good with them getting funds I know they need it just like everybody else but I think they need to make sure we need to make sure that obviously this is cares Act money that that money is actually being used on you know things above and beyond normal to the pet food costs because of the pandemic so if you can get that the staff and they can get it out Senator Hammer has a question you're recognized thank you madam chair mark meet at go back to a point was made earlier this is going to be for reimbursement of expenses already paid out correct yes so that's the basis of the calculation is they demonstrate payroll expenses they've already paid out and they were reimbursement for those expenses so when they submit the request will they be submitting documentation with that having already paid out those expenses before the money is issued the documentation that's meant is they have to document those payroll expenses they incurred during the pandemic going back to March thirteenth of twenty twenty and that will be. Directly related to what they have determined are the cost above what would been pre pandemic experiences is that correct it will be related to that but the payroll expenses they document to us it can be all their total payroll expenses for that time period during the pandemic okay thank you. You've got someone else in the queue I'm looking. Representive Wardlaw you're recognized again thank you senator Hammer reminded me of something that payroll expenses is that pay roll that is required. By the department so that's the CNA's and the nurses that are required only ours that all staff that they have at that time. We'll be all staff they have for the facility so it goes above and beyond the actual required staff it does because the if for most sizzling facilities even among their nurse nursing or seeing a staff they tend to have more staff than what is required by DHS licensure requirements so when I looked at the list of homes that were listed worn Monticello in Lake Village were on that list and warm Monticello Lake Village close prior to code that so you're not going to be sending money out for those facilities that close prior to those dates correct correct there's so why were they still on the list at this point that was just a wish to list of who medicated paid for in terms of which actually sat Stephen had been a fisheries in January twenty twenty one so there was a lot of talk around here about facility close my district actually saw two of those. And we'd love to have him back but we're more than likely never getting that I mean rule area we've had these discussions over and over again but the last thing I want to see is money spent on those facilities for code when they wouldn't even open during the code pandemic at all. Yes so the the did build with funds facility had been open during covid and they still have to be opened because part of the purpose this is to ensure ongoing access for Medicaid beneficiary so what you're telling me is even if they were open at the beginning code and they've closed during code you're still not send any monies to those people that's correct thank you. Thank you have got I guess one more question to a you know they get Medicaid reimbursement on the Medicaid beds are we going to deduct that Medicaid reimbursement from the salaries or are you saying that that Medicaid reimbursement goes towards something completely different how are we shoring up that they are getting Medicaid reimbursement now we're going to reimburse them for all their salaries it's the the Medicare reimbursement is only for a portion of the expenses because they have other expenses are not covered by Medicaid and course they'll also have the just expenses to keep the facility open their building expenses and so on with that said because the Medicaid per diem is not tied to a specific service that's not considered to be duplication there okay so we don't it's not like where in other facilities that they have a like a direct costs and indirect costs it's just wide open right because they don't speak cost force they don't have that same reporting or part of the other tops facilities have okay just for the record I would like to see them move towards a cost report in the future same type setting I think that be great every other facility type has that thank you but are there any other questions for DHS. All right C. nine thank you. Any other questions on item C. all right see no not entertain a motion to approve a motion and a second so moved all in favor say aye opposed nay moshing carries will move on to Adam D.. Thank you madam chair in section D. now these are the American rescue plan appropriation requests. According to the cover letter by the CFO the first twenty four a question by agencies has been awards made directly to them from a federal office the last request is for an award made by the state's A. R. P. steering committee but it has been pulled from the agenda by agency request and it has been resubmitted in a supplemental agenda that will take up after we do the regular agenda. request require prior approval by you'll see in the first question on page four of the package. You gotta page for this is the one for south Arkansas community college it's request to spend nine hundred fifty one thousand in the R. P. funds the fund to be used for direct aid to students for emergency relief to minimize contamination by user scooping ice from an open bin and a purchase to the radios for campus police in operation support next item is on page seven. This is south Arkansas community college thirty six thousand one hundred eighty R. P. funds and is to be used to improve cybersecurity and remote instruction Nicks I was Page ten. This is the three on page ten for a issue it's four twenty million to reimburse for lost revenues technology and PPE related expenses Nicks items page thirteen. D. for you they school for mathematics sciences and arts five hundred thousand the R. P. funds to make H. FAQ improvements and provide mental health services and online learning Nicks items page fourteen. This is a issue Three Rivers one point one million in a R. P. funds and these will be used to direct grants to students for emergency relief and reimburse for equipment indirect costs lost tuition and fee revenue and in H. FAQ cooling tower replacement next item is on page eighteen. This is the second page eighteen four Ozark a college this is requested spin hundred twenty three thousand E. R. P. funds and these funds be used to purchase technology for one line instruction next item is on page twenty one this is the seven also Ozark or college it's request to reallocate appropriation previously awarded in June the original questions for movable classroom furniture but due to supply to supply chain issues the called like to use his phone instead to purchase technology and do outreach to financially applicants Nicks items on page twenty four. This is D. eight on page twenty four is a issue Mountain Home it's request for one point five million the fund to be used to make student relief grants technology purchases lab equipment upgrades and reimbursement for lost revenues next item is on page twenty nine. Page twenty nine is the nine this is the chess Division of Children and Family Services this is four nine hundred forty nine thousand and it's to improve the child protective services system in line with the fourteen program purposes of the child abuse neglect grant award Nicks items on page thirty two. Page thirty two is the ten this is the chess again Division children family services this request is for two point three million and it's to enhance community based and prevention focus programs and activities designed to strengthen and support families to print to prevent child abuse and neglect Nicks replaces on page thirty five this is the eleven page thirty five this is for the Department parts hedging towards on its request to spend three point well three million seventy thousand the funds used to support travel tourism and outdoor recreation sectors through planning marketing and media visitor engagement workforce training on page thirty nine is next requests. This is the twelve page three nine this is a issue mid south for two point nine million the funds be used to provide emergency support to students and support institutions of higher education Nicks items on page forty one T. thirteen this is Henderson state university for three point nine million and the reserve funds to provide direct grants to students for emergency relief answer reimbursed for lost revenues. Page forty fives next request that is the fourteen this is again you have a school for mathematics sciences and arts this is a request it's been eleven thousand the funds be used to provide laptops to students. Age forty six that's next page is the fifteen again you have a school for mathematics science and arts this is twenty six thousand to implement this summer acceleration academy with an emphasis on students in the delta and southern region of the state. next page is page forty seventy sixteen this is the from a division of budget and management services. This is requested one point seven million and we use the funds to make sub grants from the family violence prevention and services sexual assault rape crisis services and supports grant award Nicks items on page fifty one. This is the seventeen department commerce division of workforce services this is four point seven million to provide short term assistance to ten of eligible families with broadband services for up to four months next item is on page fifty four. This is the eighteen Arkansas tech university five point seven million to provide emergency support to students. Nicks items on page fifty six this is the nineteen issue B. B. three point nine million to reimburse for technology personnel related expenses indirect costs lost revenues and provide direct grants for emergency relief at age sixty one is the next item that is the twenty four Arkansas Economic Development Commission this is one million of funds used for cleaning expertise specifically citing houses to identify potential industrial sites in the manufacturing workforce needs assessment Page sixty four as the next request. That is a D. twenty one issue four point one million to provide seed relief checks Page sixty seven is the twenty two northwest Arkansas community college this is zero dollars requested it's a reallocation of previously awarded appropriation to provide for positions equipment professional fees indirect calls and scheduling next page shows a breakout. The next question on page seventy. Page seventy is the twenty three southeast Arkansas college two hundred twenty nine thousand in the funds vis replace computers. Next item page seventy two D. twenty four A. issue Newport is requested spent eight hundred thirty five thousand the funds will be used to provide direct grants to students for emergency relief the next item is that a war by this your committee but was pulled agency request however there was a new request submitted in the supplemental agendas if you move to that supplemental agenda. It's item a in the agenda. It is a request from the Department of Parks heritage and tourism it's for two point four million dollars. The funds these for broadband expansion at all state parks will considers a schedule locations is included with requests and the department has provided their broadband infrastructure improvements study that's the packet in color it's at your desk. All right thank you represent Dotson you have a question. Thank you madam chair this I'm not sure Stafford if they can answer this but we we hired somebody to review all these things for compliance with all the federal guidelines and everything does that day look over include The direct funding from higher education requests that are all in this packet. They are that the F. may coming up to the table. All. Please state your name for the record. Elevate our FI's ministration printed Dotson we did hire the consulting firm that we use is C. T. H. right although they oversee all the and review all of the proposals that we submit to my knowledge they they do not review those proposals that are direct funding to universities and other entities so if if they're not actually reviewing those and making sure that they comply with federal guidelines if something happens where the request that a higher education institution makes doesn't comply with it who's on the hook for that the state or the institution the institutions. Since we're talking about a lot of money here And my history seems to be that whenever an institution can't pay its bills they come to us as a state to ask for more money is that something we should be looking at to make sure that all those direct funding requests that they're going to be on the hook for if they make a mistake is is getting covered make sure they're in compliance that in my apologies representative Dotson I'm I'm not it extremely familiar with all of the requirements although the mind my understanding is a number of those direct funding Opportunities to universities and in entities are for very specific purposes so will be more than happy to go back and look at that can communicate with the institutions to assist in any way but it. I'm working under the assumption that those are for very specific programs for for needs that are identified and and have pretty clearance and concise guidelines for the expenditures of those funds well I appreciate that assumption and I I've kind of been operating under that assumption as well but when when they come and audit us I don't know that they'll be working off some shins nobody going off the letter of the the statute or the guidelines so if you would check into that and see if that's something we need C. tech to be reviewing because we're we're talking about. Quite a bit of money so certainly thank you thank you. Representative gene you're recognized thank you madam chair I've got a question on DTN on the community based child abuse prevention grants. Of and that I'm not the grant port but just the the five hundred thousand for professional fees what is that include at least if I got someone from DHS they can come up to the table again. Please state your names again for the record. Thank you senator Clark what from whom services Mr Martin address sure Division of Children and Family Services. The question again yeah yes Adam DTM I'm I'm way over here there's a line item on this grant for five hundred thousand for professional fees what what is that includes all. So I'm professional fees as that line is and that's where we would put the funds for that C. B. cat grant and that would include if you look on the one page handout on TV cap those funds would go as part of all for program so we've included the community of most of those funds would be in that community awareness and support which is sixty thousand settings the messaging around child abuse intervention but also as part of that line item would go into the other three projects which include community schools and the parenting for the parenting for prevention which is actually parenting classes I believe these are program yes yes Sir the for programs that professional fees. I don't match up what what you're doing here at that that. That is the title of the bucket of funds in which we put the money in our budget. That that I don't I don't know if I'm using the actual financing term correctly but that is the bucket of funds in which we put that grant into you to that administer these for program okay all right thank you. At. All right other any other questions of what got someone else in the queue. I'm just going to get approve and then you're welcome to speak. You're recognized thank you madam chair mines or one D. eleven so. Eleven yeah all right thank you thank you get someone from parks heritage and tourism to the table please. Please state your name for the record. Travis number on director tourism within the Department parks agent or some. You're recognized thank you madam chair I guess my question is we're trying to include all people. diversifier stayed with Mr engagement outdoor recreation marketing promotional I would like to see all of that before this is approved and put it on as of thanks to our state is that possible. A clear clarify you see all of it sorry well I'm looking at the It's D. eleven mmhm where you guys have a development for three hundred fifty brand development paid media one million five correct. Marketing and promotional items five hundred thousand outdoor five hundred sixty days Mr engagement seventy five in workforce training I just think of before we put this in our state that we as a legislature should be able to see this before it goes out I would ask that it be held if we could do that. Be on the sorry you know go ahead beyond the description is provided below you. Each thing you want to see per accrued grow yes I'd like to see the full RPA that's going to be put out. And what that looks like. Is that possible. Where we're looking here I think let me just make sure I'm in that I'm that I'm looking at this right this is a a direct these are direct funds that you're getting that's not coming through the state was not approve of the steering committee correct correct this is this is a grant this door that we're ministering on behalf of the state through EDA in the economic development ministration made this available directly to states the amount was based off a formula of direct impact on from COVID on these industries and art is actually a very low amount compared to most states because we fair actually quite well and in this area compared to some of those states so that's how the announcmenet was made we put this together based off of the criteria they were looking for And the ways we thought it could most benefit our state so. We're looking for the initial approval then we will build out in this thing and we're more than will willing to to present follow up please you're recognized I'm not concerned that the money's coming from the feds I'm concerned about our state and what we're going to put out there that's my concern I would like to see that is if I might represent Crawford here's what I would like to do I think we're in the preliminary stage stages on this right here in developing this plan they just need disapproval so that they can get us a detailed plan what if you're in agreement what I'd like to do is have them bring the plant back to us once the you know once they have it more detailed they're not going to have anything available to give us right now. Is that is is that a fair assumption. True because we're waiting on full approval from the DA and then we're we're we're next we're ready to accept it based off of this and signing some paperwork to Mar that then we'll have our initial planning meeting with the DA to where they'll outline some some more direct steps that we have to follow but we still have to follow all procurement processes with with these which at the additional layer making sure that you all can approve what we're putting out of state there were recover let me come back to you and me say I have other people in the current thank you. If you will I can't see who's who if you have a question for the parks and heritage like raise your hand and I'll see if I can are at. Me see if I can get who stay here. I just. At the start on your map Senator Hammer you're recognized. It's still have that's on the representative hot you're recognized thank you madam chairman just a follow up on representative Crawford's question I think our question is with the message Jean that will be used in these promotions and so on with that be something that could be looked at prior to it going out statewide that is not a problem at all and so the money that spent in developing that if there is a reason why it would need to be any way to tweak to redevelops there would be a process by which the message for our state would be approved by the legislature there's no problem with that at all thank you. Adam's gonna have his next in the queue you're Michael Turner wrote Michael turn red. Thank you thank you madam chair so this is preliminary is that correct yes ma'am and is it time sensitive as well. It is to the extent that we can move as quickly on this as possible R. thirty day deadline due for paperwork is Thursday and this falls in line with that and then with those Plumeri that means we can start moving on and on the you will not start spending this is merely the ability to to get started is that correct. And there is no problem with the messaging is for is relaying that information to us so that we are making sure that we are representing the state of Arkansas and a very positive way am I correct yes ma'am all right thank you so much manager appreciate thank you I want to hit the next button your bike will turn red. Thank you madam chair up right in front of you this fall and I appreciate manager thank you resolve the problem because I think you saying there's nothing but that we want to get some indication what Mr put now and I say this many committees when you get federal money a lot of times or strings attached you got to do it the way they want to do now A. R. P. money I don't see it being changed that much between divisions but if there's a message going out this going to differ a lot for Arkansas that's I think what I'm here in my colleagues want to hear in. In eagerness to get money sometimes I've seen things agreed to that of the body. Probably wouldn't go along with had they not ask questions so that's what I think they're asked apartment think that's too much going on thank you too much on the status of. Bruschi to doing that now doctor not all of the confident the messaging that will will go along to further the for the good of state all right I'm gonna recognize the next person you're Michael turn red. Thank you madam chair just just for clarification says outline diversity equity inclusion those words mean different things to different people is that in reference to such as playground equipment that allows for maybe handicap individuals to have accessibility is that the way in which those words are being used to apply to that setting it potentially could especially on the outdoor recreation Grant Park there's also just making sure that we're Making sure messages are welcoming to all types of visitors that can help benefit all the communities and our state okay and then the paragraph says Arkansas tourism will enlist the help of an outside consultant representative given the volume of money that we're talking about are you gonna go through an RFP process or does the agency have existing contracts that you're going to utilize to flow this money to a plan to use in our fee process okay and that so whoever gets R. P. is going to have to be able to address all six the areas that are that are listed on page thirty six. A potentially we're also looking at breaking it into multiple sections and you might have park that will be used separately that wouldn't need to be abused internally but some. Or a large amount would be used and hopefully addressed through these but we're also hoping to be able to utilize some of with separate as you see like access outdoor recreation assets is a potential thing with the new outdoor recreation office that would be a different group we would not typically use the same for their strategic planning on the tourism size okay okay and if I if I'm right I could be wrong but that our P. because this can be an RP you're going to come back for us before final approval so we'll actually be able to see the content to the concerns of some expressed here today what is cycled background before us and to be a little more detailed and and spelled out is that correct correct yep we stood here to every all the states criminalized when used terms diversity equality inclusion based on your answer while ago that that would not necessarily be limited to just types of a playground or outdoor activities that would be allowed you're talking about lifestyles as well in your promotion in the messaging you're going to be sending out is that correct because we're going to evaluate what what fits and what's right for the state and our and our best message to send visitors to the our location are thank you thank you manager. Thank you so I think what I'm hearing from the members is obviously the R. F. peas gonna go through review so that are you know that we know pertain to look at that again could I have you come back next month will put you at the end of the agenda under reports just to kind of update us on the status of where you're at with the branding is looking like this give us an as status update absolutely all right thank you do I have any other questions whether at the table R. C. nine thank you. Are there any questions for any other items on under the. Representative Dotson you're recognized. Thank you madam chair yes this is Just for I think Pitsch DD twenty four on page seventy two. Is a H. back. Reimbursement replacements renovation. Just wanna make sure that that is an allowable expense for A. R. P. funds how do I have anyone here from As You Newport or possibly even the FNA want to come up and just a test to okay. Please state your name for the record thank you ma'am sure shame roadway issue system resent Dotson H. back is on the list we do have a specific list in reference to your other question earlier and we would welcome somebody reviewing our request but our lists are probably going to be more specific in terms of what we can spend on presents half of our money has to go directly to students but H. fact technology anything that improves air flow in the classroom technology in the classroom is on the list I guess that that would be this is upgrading the system in order to help the mental leisure ventilation system great that that's thank you I was alluding to that but appreciate you clarifying you but. thank you all right are there any other questions on item the. All right if not I would entertain a motion to approve. Those items along with the item supplement on the supplemental agenda item eight. Motion the second all in favor say aye. Opposed nay moshing carries will move on to item E.. Thank you madam chair inspection needs these this is a rainy day fund release request. You'll see a letter from the governor transfer two hundred thousand from the rainy day fund to the if a racing commission the funds will be used for education and treatment programs on compulsive gambling disorder in a later section the agendas and that cash section the commission also has request increase their appropriation to spend those funds. Right I have any questions on that. Okay I have a motion to approve a second all in favor aye opposed nay moshing carries. Thank you madam chair the next sexual being the supplemental agenda we have a the last to provide on the restrict reserve fund transfer and against on the supplemental agenda. It'll be item B. as the last two pages of that packet. In the packet is a letter from the CFO recommending a transfer of two hundred fifty thousand from the unallocated reserve majority set aside other restrict reserve fund to the University of Arkansas at Monticello three in this is through a developing enhancing appropriation the funds will be used to support renovations of their agricultural building. All right thank you I want to turn someone's Michael o'neill turned red then you're recognized. Thank you madam chair of. Can we get an explanation of what the. What the much needed renovations are to this that we're getting. Is this H. back is this. Something. What what's going on with this two hundred fifty thousand yep please state your name for the record and then you're recognized representative Dotson. Alex Becker vice chancellor for finance it you AM representative Dotson we've got our agriculture building A large auditorium and a front area of the building that. Really needs to be brought up the construction was in the mid seventies several years ago are Act faculty moved out of that facility as we kind of. consolidated agriculture forestry and natural resources and so as we bring them back their renovations that need to be done before they move back into that facility including a large auditorium that used to bring in animals. Excuse me for our ag students and faculty to review and study and it's also used for presentations and meetings and things of that nature so we're talking paint flooring light fixtures equipment yes Sir a lot audio visual for the auditorium new seating removing a lot of the old installation coming back in with new ceilings and things that Act flooring yes Sir and none of this qualifies for the arpa funds that we're just talking about making or no Sir none and none of these renovations have any HVAC in them at this point. Okay and this is probably for staff this restricted reserve. That's is that a higher threshold release those funds. They're they're different accounts within the reserve fund and this one is not this is from the Ananth unallocated reserve majority vote set aside so this is just a moment a majority vote just a majority vote okay thank you yes Sir. I do I have any other questions other for item B. or item be on the supplemental agenda. All right see none I'm I have a motion and a second all in favor aye opposed nay moat motion carries. Thank you madam chair around section F. now these are the cash appropriation increase request. The first item is if when you they hope Texarkana is requesting Chris probation by. By three hundred thousand the Senate or you will be used to shore of extra help according to the letter it was discovered that their new accounting system counts more employees as extra help. The next item if two is from the Department of Parks hedge towards on this is the Old State House Museum this is requesting crease preparation by sixty three thousand any speeding thirty would allow the department to pay expenses relate to events exhibits and educational programming. The letter explained these expenses previously came out of and appropriated cash fund and I spoke with the department and they told me this was only recently discovered and that it will be built into the new biennium budget billing for. F. three is a letter from you in the system it's increasing their purpose about twenty nine million new spending forty is necessary to operate the newly established online university university of Arkansas grant them next item the four is a letter from the Arkansas rehabilitation services at the department of commerce this is request increased preparation by five thousand five hundred you Senator you will pay for staff time for monitoring the Arkansas career training institute in hot springs the letter says the funding comes from a previous rainy day release next item F. five is northwest Arkansas community college this is for one point three million appropriation needs being forty will allow the college to cover debt service obligations next item is S. six this is the V. disbursing officer I was contacted by the Department let yes anyone had this item pulled so this could be pulled by agency request. Next item is at seven this is for D. from the racing commission it's requests increase appropriation by two hundred thousand you spent thirty would allow the commission to provide funding for compulsive gambling disorder treatment and education programs the cut the the funding for this comes from that rainy day release that was in the earlier section of the agenda Ballinger those are all the requests. All right to any questions for any of those items. All right see none will mark Adams one three five and seven as reviewed out hold on let's go back I've got a got a request your Michael turn red. Yes thank you I guess I will direct this question to Mister Brecht. The UA hope Texarkana. Of you know I just keep this work day program that was adopted in favorable of I just don't hear anything good about it I just to to continue will problem of it is expensive of I know when we compared with other universities and the H. R. program may have this is far outstrips the cost is this typically we've got many of these Robert of of these type of eleven to three hundred thousand dollars a an issue with workday. Thank you Robert recognized permanence ministration Vaught senator I'm not aware of any request like this number of really not familiar with program to be honest I know we've supplemented number times with the with with a lot of money but we continue to put money into the I just anytime I see work day there seems to be of money issue and a problem with it so of thank you of manager. Thank you see no other questions will mark these items as reviewed. It's. Thank you madam chair reinspection G. now these are the budget classification transfer requests. The first item is for the public public safety Arkansas crime information center this is a request to transfer twenty thousand from operating expenses to capital outlay the transfer is needed to complete an upgrade of the sex offender registry system. Next item is number two again Arkansas crime information center this is also a request to transfer appropriation to upgrade the sex offender registry system the last request was to be twenty thousand other special revenues appropriation this request is to move a hundred thirty five thousand of their federal funds preparation. Next item number three is part of commerce insurance department this is a request to transfer fifteen thousand from conference to travel to capital outlay the transfer would allow the Department replace two vehicles I'm sure those are all the request. All right to have any questions on any of those. If not we'll mark those items as reviewed will move on to item H.. Thank you madam chair section H. is the image your request the first one is for office the prosecutor coordinator this is a request for two hundred fifty nine thousand appropriation to spend federal funds and to establish three positions. They have a grant from the victims of crime act to fund a statewide certified facility dog program to support crime victims according to the request a dog assisting police and prosecution interviews court hearings in child forensic interviews the grant covers eighty percent program expenses of the remaining two percent of state matching eighteen as other are eligible for the agency learned the state matches the prosecutor court enters time on the program and the other is the provision of dogs in training by canine companion and some volunteer advocate hours. Next item number two is the chess Division county operations this is a request for fourteen thousand they have a grant from the USDA for the workfare program that allows eligible snap recipients to perform public service activities to receive benefits this item requires a fifty percent state match according to the department the match as provided by the work for provider organization employing the individual Nicks items H. three state crime lab this is a request for eighty seven thousand in a grant from the national highway traffic safety administration to complete toxicology testing in a timely manner for the fifty B. Talley announces reporting system and this is a hundred and federally funded. Next item H. four department health this is for two thousand six hundred immigrant from the department of health and Human Services to include the COVID nineteen optional industry in occupation Marshall for the behavioral risk factor surveillance system survey and this is a hundred and federally funded next item number five Arkansas state police it's request for five hundred twenty four thousand they have a grant for the national highway traffic safety administration to conduct selective traffic enforcement projects to reduce the number of traffic related related fatalities and this is a hundred and federally funded. Next item number six Arkansas crime information center this request is for a four four hundred and twenty thousand they have a grant from the US department of justice to continue a contract with the increase screening this is the music circuit and district courts to collect is a dispositions and then for them to the agency to enter into a national database this I requires a ten percent match in our industry says the agency learned the staff time working on the project will be used for match. Next item number seven Arkansas state police this is request for eleven thousand they've grant from the department of homeland security to buy bomb suits and explosive protection for weapons of mass destruction preparedness is items Hendren centrally funded number eight Arkansas state police this is request for eighty four thousand and another grant from department homeland security this time to assist with swat operations this item is a hundred and federally funded next item number nine insurance department it's four five hundred thousand in a grant from the department health and Human Services to modernize or update state exchanges in this item is a hundred centrally funded. last item number ten is Arkansas Economic Economic Development Commission this is a request for fifteen thousand they have a grant from the USDA to support targeted technical assistance training and recruitment strategy activities to develop or expand small businesses in rural areas this I requires a sixty one percent of their match our analysts learned in these matching funds come from a partnership with energy SWEPCO you see a a issue delta center for economic advancement electric cooperatives and your those are all the amenities. All right other any questions on any of those. Seeing none will mark item H. as reviewed we want you I am I the manager section I are the people in whole in the country as request there's only one on the agenda this is for the board of examiners and speech pathology it's request for six thousand an appropriation for extra help due to the increasing number of license renewals. any questions on that one if not we'll mark item I is reviewed will move on to reports not M. J. the manager J. one is a surplus income distribution report this report shows sources of unobligated funds and then the distributions for the for the rainy day restrictions or and long term reserve fund as of the end of November so this before any enacted bills that came through the last a special session The reading fun shows three point one million distributions and a balance of thirteen point four six million other researchers Service chills one point five seven million in distributions and overall balance of sixty five point six nine million the total long term reserve balances one point two billion. The next report is G. two this is the budget stabilization trust fund report and shows cash flow loan throughout the fiscal year as of the end of November there are twenty point nine million in outstanding loans in the cash balance is a hundred and seventy one million. Next item G. three. Is a tobacco settlement report and this gives a summary of income fund balances investments actual payments to the state and on the second page for all expenses by the fiscal year. Next item is J. for this is the central services report and it shows the fund balance and disbursements as well as the expenditures of each agency supported by this fund. And J. five is the last report this is the American recovery plan report in the first two pages of the report shall request that were approved by the A. R. P. steering committee that the state has discretion awarding according to the report the steering committee has approved six hundred seventy four point eight million in request it and then there's one request is on today's agenda for two point forty million that's for parterres and tourism. On the third page begins attachment a that report shows a R. P. funds are sent directly to state agencies from the various federal entities according to the report one point three five billion appropriation has been awarded for has been awarded for those funds and the last four pages are attention B. and this is a report that shows funds that were sent directly to institutions of higher education according to that report two hundred fifty billion appropriation has been awarded manager those rather reports. Thank you do I have any questions on any of these reports. All right seeing none I move on to other business no other business we will be adjourned.