ALC-PEER

We need a motion to suspend the rules to adopt the supplemental agenda. I've got a motion I'm gonna second all those in favor signify by saying aye All those opposed motion carries over going to kick things off with Saddam B. one. Thank you Mr chairman item I'm sorry section be these are the various temporary appropriation requests. The first item is be one that's on page two this is a letter from the administrative office of the course this is a request to increase appropriation by three hundred and seventy four thousand the letter explains requested to restore preparation that was earlier used to purchase pre approve COVID nineteen response items they'll be like PPE and hand sanitizer the next item is on page three this is a letter from the department of Veterans Affairs it's request to increase the preparation by a total of a hundred seventy seven thousand according to the letter two thousand will go toward providing honors at veterans funerals and a hundred seventy five thousand go toward operating costs of the cemetery these functions are supported by the military license plates in general revenues. I don't B. three is on page four this is a letter from Arkansas school for the blind is items been pulled agency request and that is the same for B. for that's on page five remove the page six this is a letter from the department of public safety division of Arkansas State Police it's requesting his preparation by four hundred five thousand the new screen door to allow the division to purchase a bearcat armored vehicle are endless but with the agency learned the switch from doing driver license renewals from four to eight years led to unanticipated income and will support this purchase and the next ones the agenda however those items of also been pulled so B. six and B. seven or pulled agency request. When I moved to page nine that is B. eight this is for the department of military and in this letters requests increase appropriation by eight hundred eighty five thousand the new spending thirty will allow the department to maintain and update National Guard armories around Arkansas sure those are all the various temporary appropriation quests thank you members want to go one by one so if you have a question on the one let me know. Richard button. Okay any questions on B. two. B. five. For B. eight. Any questions or comments on the one to five or eight. All right seeing none we've got a motion to approve we've got a second all those in favor signify by saying aye. Others oppose motion carries and that is all the items B. one two five and eight. Thank you Mr chairman section see now these are the cares appropriation requests. The first item C. one is a letter from the department of finance administration this is disbursing officer it's request increase preparation by a hundred ten thousand spinning three is needed to transfer appropriation to allow reimbursements of pre approved items to state agencies related to cares Act funding. The next item is C. two this is from the Department of transformation share services for the Division of information systems it's request increase corporation by one point three million and it's been thirty allowed the I. S. to augment cybersecurity protections sure those are all the kids requests. All right thank you the members with any questions or comments on item C. one. I don't see too. All right seeing none in a motion to approve got a motion I'm gonna second all those in favor signify by saying aye All opposed motion carries the one. Thank you Mr chairman section D. now these the American rescue plan appropriation request. Into the cover letter by the CFO the first twenty one requested by agencies suspend awards made directly to them from a federal office the last request is for an award made by their peace steering committee request require prior approval by LC. The first item D. one is on page for this packet it is a request for S. the tech and this request to re allocate previously awarded proper preparation and increase spending in another line item for a net increase of a hundred sixteen thousand in the R. P. funds. Warden to the letter on page five the spinning thirty will be used for technology upgrades air filtration loss revenues in PP the letter explains previously awarded a preparation was dedicated to wifi upgrades however the university came into a federal grant that was outside of the R. P. they'll address their wifi deficiencies they're quick they request reallocating these funds to an H. fact project in their original jim I did speak with the if they yes they contacted me to make one change to this request instead of the two hundred thirty thousand be allocated capital outlay as it is in this request the amount should have been allocated to a construction line item so they requested in a verbal amendment be made that that to thirty two thousand be dedicated to a construction line item. The next item is on page nine this is the to this is a request by the University of Arkansas at little rock it's to spend four million and A. R. P. funds and these funds be used to reimburse lost revenues from tuition fees and frogs Hillary Services. Nicks I was on page thirteen. This is the three for the university of Arkansas community college at Batesville the request is to spend a hundred nineteen thousand and these funds to be used to provide direct grants to students for emergency relief next item is on page fifteen. This is the for for self Arkansas Community College answer questions been fifty six thousand the fund to be used to pay salaries and match for new employees engage in academic and student support during the pandemic next item is on page seventeen us for the Department of Education Division of educational television it's request is a request to spend six hundred ninety six thousand the funds would be used to maintain programming services to prevent prepare for and respond to the pandemic next item is on page nineteen of this for the department of health it's request to spend eighteen point six million the fund to be used for IT staff IT infrastructure call centers data entry and additional registered nurses and local health units next items page twenty six. This is also the department of health is requested spend nine hundred thirty four thousand and these funds be used to support home visiting activities that address the identified needs of families and staff for programs that screen for partner violence improve breast feeding and provide supplies and support to homeless families next item is on page twenty eight. This is D. eight on page twenty eight it's also for the department of health is requesting one point seven million A. R. funds these funds be used to expand training assisting the disease intervention specialists work force on page thirty the next request and that is the item D. nine it's also department health it's request to spend two point two million the fund to be used to implement the national we can do this campaign to increase public confidence in an uptake of code nineteen vaccines next item is on page thirty two. This is item D. ten is for you they Pulaski technical college it's request has been seven point six million or funds these funds be used to reimburse the school for PP technology and payroll expenses ever other COVID related expenses Page thirty four and thirty five provide a break out of the expenses by line item thanks items page thirty six. This is item the eleven is for DHS division of aging adult and behavioral health and this request is it's been three hundred thirty seven thousand the funds will be used to send support to substance abuse block grant funded treatment provider organizations Page thirty eight through forty six are the budget's from each provider organization showing how the funds will be used the next item is on page forty seven. Page forty seven that's the twelve this is also the just division of aging it's request to spend twelve point four million the fund to be used to develop enhance and improve crisis continuum services enhanced evidence based practice and implement a first episodes psychosis early serious mental illness pilot program Nicks items page forty nine. This is also the chess is requested two point seven million the fund to be used to support in personal services provided to senior cantons while enhancing social supports to area agency on aging the next item is on page fifty one again the chess this is for one point three million in the fund to be used to provide services to adults who are a care giver for an older individual Nicks items page fifty three DHS again this is for a little over four million the funds to be used to provide home delivered meals to qualifying seniors and all seventy five counties next items page fifty five this is the sixteen on page fifty five the H. it's for DHS's request to spend ninety one thousand the funds be used to support the ombudsman program to provide statewide ask advocacy for residents of nursing facilities assisted living facilities and residential care facilities next item is fifty seven this is again the chess request to spend four hundred thousand the fund to be used to assist seniors impacted by COVID and improve overall health with preventative health services like screens counseling and exercise programs next item is paid fifty nine this is the eighteen page fifty nine is FOR D. just again it's request to send a request to spend ten point nine million the funds will be used to support initiatives in substance abuse disorder prevention treatment recovery and administrative costs nexus page sixty one this is the nineteen the just Division Asian again This Is request to spend four point one million the fund to be used for support services for older cans in such as choices and quiet representation to Trish and counseling and and more Nicks I was paid sixty three DHS division of child care and early childhood education this is request to spend two hundred one thousand A. R. P. funds. The funds will be used for too herbs and administer the early head start childcare partnership grant program the hubs that that would be committee services office in hot springs in the north central Arkansas Development Council in Batesville receive funds based on the number of children in each program Nicks items age sixty five. And that is the twenty one is for the Arkansas department transportation this is requested in one point nine million the funds will be used for inner city operating systems for Jefferson lines in greyhound the grant will allow the two bus services to reinstate preserve and continue existing and new routes for riders the next awards from the Arkansas A. R. P. steering committee and can be found on page seventy three. Is the seventy three that's the twenty two for the DHS this is a request to re allocate previously awarded appropriation for hospital search staffing no new preparations being sought the original ward address staffing and bed shortages lost revenue streams and the additional cost providing COVID nineteen treatment by hospital's calls by the Delta variant pages seventy six and seventy seven show that the reallocation moose four hundred seventy four thousand that's from the insure the continued availability possible care section to the code con receiving hospital at one section and the monoclonal antibody administration adult section these are based on revising figures from the original estimate costs. This year the next era your question on the supplemental agenda last everyone who to their stability in a that separating outside of the regular agenda. The first item in the suburban agenda is a direct federal ward for Costa community college and that is on page five page five The Village in the. This is a request to spend one point three million in a R. P. funds the fund to be used for PP student aid mental health wellness capital outlay in tech related expenses in next item which is also direct award is on page eight. On page eight Isabel eighty two for Arkansas tech it's request has been a little over a million a or B. funds and these funds be used to support digital classroom support digital library resources infrastructure capacity and coverage of campus wifi in X. items Page thirteen of the suburban agenda again this is the direct award it's for a issue Beebe it's request to spend one point two million airport funds the fund to be used to reimburse victims for technology expenses to enhance improve or gain the ability to deliver educational concert remotely and reimburse for personal related expenses in next item is on page sixteen. This is for us our second developing Commission this item and the next four wards are from A. R. P. steering committee. this request has been a hundred and twenty four million for it Economic Development Commission the funds will be used to support role broadband program to essential infrastructure improvements that will allow our Kansas to compete in the digital economy enhance healthcare outcomes through telemedicine in improved access to education the next page is a list of projects that would be funded and the commission also has a fifty page color hand out at your desk the goes into more detail on the role broadband program. The next item is on page eighteen. This is several a five DFA disbursing officer the next for the for DFA disbursing officer is a request to spend one point seven million or P. funds this item fund the funds be used to outfit women and children first the center against family violence with supplies and equipment the next item on the next page this page nineteen is requested in six point two million the fund to be used to increase the capacity of the Arkansas coalition against sexual assault accredited victim programs that's to provide services to individuals have been trafficked next item is on page twenty. this is a request has been a point two million and the fund's of bees to support Arkansas coalition against domestic violence to ensure that essential victim services for domestic violence human trafficking and stalking are maintained the next item is on page twenty one this is a request to spend three hundred seventy four thousand the fund to be used to make a grant to Ozark rape crisis to address an increase in sexual assault and domestic violence domestic violence resulting from the collecting pandemic and more information for these for DFA request can be found on pages twenty two and twenty three the packet is chair those are all they are pure quests. All right thank you members are what I want to do real quick just make sure we keep everything orderly is I if I wanted your Mike in and just kind of call out if there's an item that you'd like to discuss further we're not going to discuss that point we'll circle it and then we'll take those as they come in order at down through so if you have an item that you would like to discuss go into your Mike I'm gonna recognize you will make sure we notate that in the will take those as they come in order that we were not just kind of bouncing around all over the place and any questions on that. All right members I'm a start with reps and five. Yes my question is on the sixteen the sixteen so we're gonna come back to the sixteen. That's DHS behavioral health Senator Rice. Supplemental no. Its owner is. Great. Okay so the whole the whole list of that's the the first twenty. Correct yes okay. And then Senator sample of for the A. R. P. broadband. Advances in K. so then one supplemental okay yes I'd members you have any other items that we like to kind of pull out discuss further again just wanna wanna make an order releases or a number of them so that so we're gonna come back we're going to discuss the higher integrantes discuss item D. sixteen and then we'll finish up with the rule connect representative Dotson you're recognized. Yeah I am I believe it's the twenty two. Twenty two. The hospital search yeah right okay. All right members anybody else have an item I'd like to discuss rest questions of an agency. C. nineteen go ahead get your Mike Senator Rice would start things out to you. Thank you Mr this this will be brief but hello I'm had conversations in the past and it's not just taking on these two U. A. L. R. and and the UA Pulaski tech I'd like to a reaffirmation With the with if the signs are audited and. there's any discrepancies. I'm not saying anything done maliciously but discrepancies that that can't be justified in there is a call back or a pay back to be head do we have assurance that will come strictly from that institution. Mistakes not on the hook. It Division of higher ed. Forty if a if you'd like to jump in there. Yes Sir go ahead recognize yourself for the committee in if he needs he can reach states question. Nick fuller of the with the division of higher education. What all of morning news is clarity is is it clear. Of those responsible for the data that they put out for these grants I understand the state different agencies we have some authority in budget to go back probably and make sure it's going to come out of that agency own higher ed is that clear I'm not again not to speak on one or the other I'm just asking are it is the whole duty clear if there's any discrepancies that get thrown out or or again call back the term I use is a clear who will pay that back and I do believe each of the institutions when they sign those grant agreements they signed as the fiduciary responsible for any of those so be on each institution now. Where the the funding that they have in reserves depends on each institution what level they have to be able to pay that back. I can't tell you for certain each of them the situation they're in concurrently but they do sign as the institution as being responsible for that and and again it's not point anything been done but I like it to be clear in their head because there's a lot of money flowing yes and sometimes you know thank you little bit loose and and I'll would want anybody to be able to back up all their purchases and after your J. declared that clarifying for the public thank you. I thank you any other questions I'm going to move on to D. sixteen. If you go ahead and get your **** now recognize your wrists and. A good morning I had several questions about this since it's a a RP funding I was wondering if is this for a short time or for a limited time or is this a long term hire I was also wondering where this person will be housed and if this position will be advertised to the public and to us as someone we can contact when a constituent has a need this is for the administration for community living front arms that's nine. Okay. Thank Mister Moore quite DHS this is not for position we have an ombudsman program in place now it's the a long term care ombudsman with state ombudsman that we employees was couple staff that are work for us as an agency and then each of the area agencies on aging they help coordinate both staff and volunteer ombudsman within their areas is this funding will be distributed for delays and they can use those for the for their existing ombudsman program okay good thank you. Do we have any other questions. All right thank you and we'll move on I think the next would be D. twenty to represent Dotson signature might. You're recognized thank you Mr chair This is Department him services yep There. Mark I have a question on the monoclonal antibody administration that on. It says an Adam payment of a thousand dollars per licensed bed available is that just a blanket license bid for a hospital or is that for any treatment that someone gets like if they are giving the monoclonal antibody treatment it's a thousand dollars ma'am another thousand dollars for the next person so how does that work exactly. Your next on. I'm sorry about that get more quite it's just if if I remember correctly it was for each hospital that was administered monoclonal antibodies it would be a thousand dollars for every license bid that hospital and this is just a one time your name for that hot okay thank you and Mister chair I missed it but D. nine when we get a chance to go back to that okay we will go in it the nine you're recognized for a question. Department health. D. nine. If you all could just go ahead recognize yourself for the committee in and you're ready to go on a quest representative. When I Mallory chief of staff Arkansas Department hill. Hello. Meg marivel director of communications Arkansas department of health. Thank you Mr this is a couple million dollars for advertising for vaccines Are we I guess I'm confused by. why we're spending more money on advertising for vaccines this point I think. Everyone is kind of aware that they're available tomorrow day what what's the purpose of this program. Well this will continue our efforts and and we have a had a a broad media campaign that we've already put out there but you know and things still change with the vaccines became available for five to eleven which was a change in the vaccine eligibility yesterday change in Brewster eligibility was announced so there are changes we still have to inform Arkansans about. Okay in this is city stay money that strictly designated for media campaigns so it can only be used for media okay it's not a starter the overall A. R. B. E. R. thank you. Okay just real quickly the question we have we had a couple of a lot of I'm sorry thank you Mr chair and thank I know we talked about this before but I just wanna make sure that we're continuing to have multi lingual communications absolutely we put out and media and and Spanish and Marshallese thank you thank you Mr and then center Chesterfield recognized for a question thank you Mr chair and love the commercial you look good. That senator Chesterfield thank you you're welcome Mister chair and to the committee I am concerned doctor that. We're not talking about Dr Corbett enough in our commercials. Because a lot of the reluctance among African Americans is based on the Teske experiment. But I find that her work is one of the best kept secrets in the country. Have you considered making sure that her that her work might be highlighted so that some African Americans might have less reluctance to take that to take the shot. And Dr Corbett hasn't come up with in our discussions but thank you for that suggestion we are always looking for new influencers to feature in our advertisement so will get in contact well she is not her work on creating during a vaccine is what I'm talking about laci and she was the person that was instrumental one of the lead immunologist in developing the vaccine and perhaps African Americans knew that an African American help to develop the vaccine. Then that would give them less angst about taking the vaccine. Am I making any sense to you yes ma'am thank you at and we have we use in our talking points and communication that there were African American physicians involved but we haven't username specifically is a thirty four year old woman and I think. If people saw her face perhaps and and became aware of homework in the African American community it might give them less angst and taking the test so I would just ask that you look at that I think that's a point well taken Senator Chesterfield will look at that thank thank you so much thank you Mr thank you Senator Irvin you're recognized for a question. Thank you I wanted to emphasize what senator Chesterfield aside and support her suggestion and I think I think there has to be a real acknowledgement about what happened with this is Kiki experiment and I think I think we I think we we need to have full acknowledgement about those types of issues when we're considering how we're presenting any information because that's very real and it's that that's just a very real thing and so my point here is really just to support her request and emphasize that because it's it's it is something that. Is discussed and is real and and I think you and particularly your position in the communications from need to probably think through those types of things a little bit and I that's all my point is thank you thank you members we we other questions or comments acting in thank you. All right that's going to take is to the supplemental Arkansas rule connect Senator sample if you hit your button. And we go ahead and have someone come up from ADC. You could just recognize yourself for the committee and then Senator sample you're ready to go on a question. Good morning my Preston department of commerce and a C.. Good morning jim Hudson ABC. Mr Hansen. Yesterday I issue a question you're gonna get back to you fail to get back to me the school may issue a question here about the a method to that these grants hello there I mean do you have you disperse the funds on on these grants because I'm looking in we got one for almost nine million one for almost eleven million tell me about the house you disperse that those funds yeah yes Sir Senator sample and and I did send a text response to that question yesterday afternoon so okay much of them fail to get it but and that's that's understand what happens sometimes but certainly happy to answer the question of the way that the funding is disbursed under the Arkansas it is dispersed in lump sum in it as an advance to all the you know we applicants who have been approved and then there is a process as they are doing the work they're submitting their invoices or the receipts for their expenses they incurred to a portal that is monitored by UAMS as our technical adviser in you a message tracking those expenses back against the project timeline the project details they provided in their application if something gets a skew they're not current or not submitting other expenses than that kind of. Send some alerts up in both the broadband office and UAMS follow up with the I. speed just to kind of make sure that they are making progress on the project. Could you not develop some sort of draw system or that we would have a little bit more control over that resident just dispersing their the full amount and in the leading them report adds that make progress it certainly is something that we could consider in and we do that other grant programs as well I think the issue with the arc program as it related to you cares ACT funding the previous funding stream for there was a a deadline obviously to get the expenses are the money out the door to hit that December thirty first deadline and that was I think the basis for the the current process we've got about three four years that we can work with on this project on the projects and I think it would be very prudent to develop a a drone system means having been in the construction industry for forty years you do run across some people that get in a bind. And then next thing you know somebody else is on the hook for the money and yes Sir and I think that that would be very prudent of of your department to take it and develop that yes Sir yes Sir we definitely can look into and I will say that there is a is a part of the application process there is a due diligence component on the financial health of the ISP if there's any issues about the quality the financial statements that that be a reason for us not to move forward with them but we will certainly look in that Sir yes Sir thank you thank you Mr thank you senator Senator Irvin you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chair a couple different things so C. tech hired Haggerty there also correctly at their they have a functionality here in assistance with you all as well is that correct through these programs could you just describe that so we're all clear about the different roles people are playing it's an administrative support to the broadband office okay and then on the If you have here this total amount is are there more projects in the pipeline and how much are those because I and I know that there are there are others that are out there that are in the pipeline there's about four hundred million requests total. And how So I know in part of these are any of these in combination with federal funding any of these before us today. Are they in combination with federal funding for instance I know for I know for instance there are some entities I. S. P.'s that participated in the federal art offer verse auction and received federal funding but also are applying for Arkansas rule connect grants to finish out what they're proposing. Those aren't listed here today but I know that they are and they are in the pipeline so my question is you know I don't want to leave federal dollars on the table so. How much is this. I want to that's why I think it's important for again us to have like a of an overall picture here because I don't want to leave those federal dollars on the table and I want to make sure that we figure out a way to leverage state money and federal money so are there more dollars that are going to be asked for to fill out the rest of the requests have a dress that. In terms of the four million dollars of the you know applications that have come in and we had to go through a little bit of a scoring process to determine which of the projects you're going to bring to you today given finite amount of funds and so one of the factors that we looked at was the degree of overlap with an art off territory well we don't want to do is be directing federal agencies in the state you know resources from arpa when a a project could be funded by art all in so this particular list does not have any leveraging to be able to accelerate an art off project is this just doesn't have art off projects and that was a basis to call them out of the list to your point and I think that's something that that the broadband consultant will be working on is is there a funding strategy for the future what we can help pull some of that those projects will be closer in time that's not a part of this. Yes that's what I'm asking is that are will be anticipate more request beyond this one not through the the art Fund street will be it'll be after the consultant's report comes out before able to draw against that second charge of our funding so unless there's another source made available depending on what that is an infrastructure bill that was passed or other funds nothing to nothing more for Arkansas that consultants report is finalized. Okay I thank you for the latitude I just I know that there are companies that participated in the reverse auction in the reverse auction how that works is that you did you know for certain census areas and then why would we not support. Those companies that went and did that and then need additional funds to finish out what their proposal is and I think it's not a product was not supporting we do support it we just want to fully understand that that's part of what the consultant is looking under to understand the full wrap the student full breadth of what that looks like across the state so we can better leverage those funds. Okay. So these here are. These here are outside of that that's correct so but this is that this is there's not gonna be any more money towards again unless there's another source that's made available that we're not aware of but through the R. this is you know we're at the bottom of the barrel right now for for what's left in the first tranche of funding so until that second charge which we don't anticipate until after the report is out and it will come as okay I gotcha and you anticipate that there's going to be a whole nother round of the US correct correct okay I understand now and then the last question on the due diligence financial audits do you consider companies that may be bought out by other bigger companies or it is that ever a fear of yours that. People are applying for different buckets of money but I mean we don't have a really way to know if they're gonna be bought out in the future and we certainly look at the financials to see whether standing is I mean but if they are bought out you know they have to uphold the terms the current agreement a contract they have in place so we something that they would go through and that that merger acquisition okay and these are direct fiber to the homes and not wholesale because I know a lot of good they're selling internet to each other from my whole self perspective chart all these direct not the whole sells its to the residence right okay thank you. All right thank you senator Senator Rice recognized for a question. Thank you and if I missed it I'm sorry. What. With recent. Last thanks number month twenty four months or twelve months what does this hundred twenty four million almost served for five million bringing the total that that's going to the DC for. This program. I have a rough figure put it close to four hundred million that's kind of what I had my mind into seventy five today saying that there's not going to be this is recognized bottom of the barrel that what under in terms of what's available still through the the our steering committee in the US the initial allotment of funds and defect probably tell you the exact number but we're we're down to the not much left in and out until we get the second tranche of funding which won't come until later in the calendar year twenty two so we would anticipate our our consultant's report being done sometime March or April so have a comprehensive overview and a better understanding of of what that looks like before that Extranjera and is available at our heard different. Figures from looking at the charts and and other things do you have a educated guess what you think is coming. In terms of this new funding. From the infrastructure build the infrastructure to the well it's that's it yes a yet to be determined number Senator Rice we'll we'll get a minimum for broadband Grannis hundred million but there is the bigger money is to be determined by the department of commerce federal Department commerce based on calculation of unserved areas across the entire country and they're going to have to wait for the FCC to produce some file maps on that so we're we're probably well into twenty two year or even twenty three before we know what the full amount of funding will be four Arkansas we have a lot of places that that happened. No signal at all yes Sir we we will qualify for so the. Do you realistically think it could be as much as four hundred million dollars or more. Hi you have any with any speculation I would be hard to guess what after that that that just body given up that don't don't see much hope they're there and in the middle yeah and even the the I don't feel like the rule electric Asian companies going to pick up the ball as they're done in some places I think we'll have to you know make sure that we're looking at the the announcmenet that comes from federal commerce make sure we agree to methodology and there's a there's a mechanism in the statute that was passed for us to protest if we disagree with an allocation I suspect that there will be some states will want more than what they're getting awarded in and we all understand we want this it is S. as possible but we we won't as. Good bang for the Buck as we get. And and we do understand inflation is eating mmhm everybody's lunch and if we the more we wait the more we lose our own the bank for the vote yes Sir so thank you for your work. Thank you senator. Thank you bye just got cleared off I don't know what happened there the area all right C. fifty two not true that is but you're recognized for a question. Thank you very much I guess one of the things we're talking about shovel ready is whether or not with all the supply chain stuff it is the fiber out there to these people these companies already have the fiber in place of the purchase date or. What we look and if if we're talking about shovel ready that's a great question center that's part of the Y. though you have the list in front of you because we these are ones that we deem most shovel ready meaning that they've they've made some of the purchase and they're they're ready to go because if we wait any longer than they get even further down that supply chain and then they're going to not be able to deploy and we're gonna have labor issues to in terms of actually someone going out there and in digging the trenches to make it happen so that's why this list is to us the most shovel ready we had another hundred and fifty million that were could be shovel ready but these ones were that much further so we think these companies have the fiber in place yes that Sturch have them ready to go okay thank you. Thank you senator Senator Hickey. You're recognized for a question thank you Mr chair thank you all for being here at I want to go back to what Senator sample was talking about on this some top draw sheep development I heard to say that we would consider it I'd like to discuss that more because I don't think that's something we need to consider I think that's something that we need to be doing not only for good business practice but since these are rescue funds if we ever have an audit on that I think that we need to be able to verify exactly where where that money is when in the span you know spent correctly. Also heard what you said from the you know that there's a financial due diligence or whatever you wanna call it at the front end but. Truth is in my past careers in banking I looked at many of those and I don't know that I ever made alone thinking that was going to go bad but they did so I think the thing is is I'd like to see that There we go ahead and develop that. And I'm not for sure that we shouldn't even be doing it the same way that you would with most construction projects that there should be able to hold back at the end to make sure that that companies completed you know what they said they're going to do. You know just to because again we are using taxpayer money we will hold these these companies feet to the fire heard what Senator Irvin said if you're doing that it really doesn't matter that if a company's bought out or not vote out because that's automatically going to be in that contracted to the or the the way that you're doing it so I just think there's two pieces of that I think there's the financial please and I think there's the drawl piece so. Can can we develop something like that before we release anymore these funds. Yeah I think that the response I gave on that noticed at the table it sounds prudent my only concern would be for some of the smaller businesses that if we're talking about large large project it could deplete their working capital and do we end up you know kind of rule them out be able to do some the projects on the larger ISPs that have a multi state footprint they've got sufficient working capital be able you know to have that cash flow impairment I just was thinking here of the table what's the unintended consequence of that same year run go do that but certainly lean toward that direction personally it sounds like a prudent a prudent thing to do. I don't know is prudent I think it's almost requirement if we're gonna be using taxpayer monies that we make sure that it spent diligently stand what you're saying about the small businesses and again I want them to I want them to participate in this for sure but if their financial situation is is you know of such that they're able to operate and do what they need to be to do even if they needed to thank you go to a financial institution like every other business does and could get a line of credit and use these receivables that'll be coming in from this money as the collateral so it almost seems like to me that that you know not only are we. dispersing the money. We're also almost being there Linder Linder per se which again I don't care that we're we're doing it as long it it might it might take you ought to hire somebody. This just looking at this to make sure is those receipts are coming in that maybe they're paying a Mona you know the more rapid basis then we have to just make sure it works but I just think that it's imperative on us that to. that we watch out for that too many bad actors out here for us just to let that to be an at chance thing. Yes Sir in it don't don't hear me saying there's any opposition for what is being suggested by you and Senator sample I just you know I thought we need to have more conversation to make sure we're not missing something here at the table. So you're going to make your for before you do this then are you going to look at it before you disburse anymore this money to make sure we have something in place I understand that if there's some unintended consequences. You know that we had thought of which I don't know what those would be again I've always looked at it that if you had if you had a construction project. I've never seen a construction project where you give all the money on the front. No we we we can definitely hello Senator I think it's it's a good recommendation all right thank you Mr president thank you Mr president thank you didn't I'm assuming there's some type of bonding requirement in place to as part of the contract prior to disbursement bonding requirement there is no binding on the second. All right representative Lynch you're recognized for a question. Is there on the the providers that have been funded is there a performance review done on how well they're doing with the money that they've been given. And. Yes Sir UAMS is kind of our our technical resource on all these projects they validate the quality of the engineering and the technical design on the front end while it's in progress they're monitoring there brought the progress they're reviewing receipts as are being submitted to an online portal to make sure that they're doing what they said they were going to do and at the end of the project they're going and they're validating that indeed the network works and it's delivered signal to work supposed to deliver signal to and there's performance criteria in the grant agreements that if they don't do what they decided to pull it back follow UP chairman. Okay so I have a small town in my district that very unhappy. And they've been promised and nothing's been delivered so that's the reason I ask is anyone following up on the back and make sure that the money that they've been funded is actually being spent toward dividing the internet service to the people in these rural areas. It isn't and I'd like to know who to talk to about following up with the mayor of the small towns in the county judge you will connect with you and make sure will follow up and get that company and if there's an issue will will make sure it's taken care of okay thank you ma'am. I thank you in an Beckham is there reason we would do a performance bond that I don't understand maybe and maybe that alleviate some of the concerns In relation to the the con you know the contractors finishing the job or falling L. specs or whatever it may be yeah you know I don't know that there's a reason not to and the fact that you typically see that a construction you know projects and this is you know what kind of a little bit different dimension than traditional kind of build build a structure sort of thing it might even if the timing issue too with the cares and how fast we're trying to get that out but with a little bit additional time in art that might be another consideration is were working into center against them and I would think that would be your fix for the smaller companies I mean they're they're gonna be accustomed informants bonds they're already got their insurance companies that set up form and you know you're guaranteeing the work to some extent at that point or at least you know a recoup that works not you know performed Senator Irvin you're recognized for a question thank you Mr chair just a follow up on that cares money at that has to be spent an out the door to the recipient by December thirty first is that correct did they have to put it in the ground I can remember because I think it changed on us do you remember. The so disorder really clear about existence very technical process on that has to be obligated by December thirty first and it's got a clear by believe March thirty first is that right all okay so whoever the recipients are have to spend that money by March okay because I knew it changed when we were appropriating way back when those dollars so I just want to make that was clear and then the second thing was like a week and a half ago you know one of the companies listed on here was I had a superintendent from one of my schools reach out because our internet was down for like two days and so and it wasn't I mean I was able to connect with the people here with the company but they were purchasing their internet three one of the companies listed here and they were the ones that were the issue in a problem so it's represent of Lynch's question is there ever any consideration for those types of. Reliability issues for internet providers is that ever looked at in this process is if they're reliable or not are they delivering the service that they're supposed to be or because it was a real problem for the school. I'll tell you that the check that we have on that is the local officials you know signature on the application endorsing that provider that's that us that's probably this is the best one because they're closer to it than we are they know reputation what's going on and if they don't want a partner with a particular business because of a bad reputation and they'll call us okay and my last question aye aye aye you know I don't want to hold things up but I also know that there are other projects and so that I am very supportive of and so you know. That are not on this list I'm not sure how you determined who got funding and who didn't. I think that was a gross spoke here these are the the ones we deem most shovel ready there's others that are in the queue that could be but these ones are just a little bit further along or the other ones are still finishing up projects that we want to see done before able to move forward some of these did not representative projects before so we know that they're ready to go and have the cruise and in place and we kind of risk you know jeopardizing that with a labor shortage if we waited on the sidelines and a further and I'll ever like trying to and because I know that there's multiple inter net providers and in like the same space yarn considering that right you're just. In other words you're not I just don't want the department of commerce to be in the position through the grant program of picking winners and losers for a certain area does that make sense yet I think that goes to the gyms point earlier we really rely on the local community who's partnering with us to tell us this is who we did we've decided as a mares a superintendent county judge of come together and said this is who we have to a chosen to work with and submit the application with we again we don't want to pick the winners and losers we can rely on our local partners to tell us who they decided to partner with and for different areas of their counties it could be a provider in this area or it could be a different provider in that area correct yes ma'am okay thank I just wanna make sure that super clear for everyone thank you one. Thank you members to any other questions all right seeing none of. All right we got a number of items to approve here of item D. one I just make sure to notate that you know we're we're switching that from capital outlay to the construction line item an amount of one hundred sixteen thousand two hundred thirty three dollars. Hendren yeah okay well I throw some zeroes there. But as it members or the any items you'd like to pull out specifically. And I think at in talking to Senator Hickey you know like this be fairly well understood and some of the questions we had about draws our bonding or whatever it may be I mean the request would be you know on Friday when we come back if you can kinda present your proposal that you plan on moving forward with that but would like to go ahead and get this taken care of today and then get it before the full A. L. C. but members if you have questions or have maybe some thoughts on how they can proceed I'd be sure to reach out to eighty C. and and let them know of those thoughts and concerns with that I need a motion to approve the items in section D. including the supplemental agenda items. I've got a motion I've got a second any discussion on the motion. Seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye those opposed motion carries. Thank you Mr chairman section need these are the this is a transfer that for the department you Mr Mrs the reallocation of resources. For flexibility special language allows the department to make for re allocations in a fiscal year to respond to changing client needs. And make most effective use of the resources authorized this is the second reallocation for the current fiscal year on the last page is a table showing all transfers the first able to show the Trancers within divisions and totals approx B. Levin point for a million the bulk of these transfer transfers which is about eight point four five million occur within the Division of Children and Family Services and are needed in order to better align their expenditures relating to overtime contract payments the work stabilization pilot program and the new child welfare information system there's also a two point three six million transfer from the Division of Youth Services residential services appropriation to their federal child and youth services grants appropriation then that's to cover additional federal funding through a receipt through ten if and the social services block grant. The next table shows transfers between divisions it shows a transfer of approximately one point one seven million an appropriation from the Division developmental disabilities services to the Division of Children and Family Services and that's to assist with the implementation of DCFS is work stabilization pilot program the next table shows fund transfers and it shows the transfer two million in general revenue funding from the division of child care and early childhood educations grants pain fun to their operating fund to be used for program operations and federal matching payments. Last able shows position transfers and it shows transfers of fifty six positions between divisions primarily to the Division of Children and Family Services of the top forty positions and that's for the implementation of their work stabilization pilot program Mr that as a relocation resources. I thank you Senator Chesterfield you're recognized for a question yes may I speak with the agency please. Morgan mark what do you just. My recognized yes ma'am thank you one of the things that is of concern to me is the. Is the turnover is this designed to reduce the turnover tell me specifically what is designed to do because it's troubling that we we don't have sufficient staff in reading the staffing reports I have found that some people after twenty years make twenty eight thousand dollars what we is this a part of the stabilization as far as retention is concerned or what is this the stabilization of. Yes benefit in terms of the positions they're moving around forty C. F. S. yes that's exactly. Art of what it's designed to do we're looking at restructuring how we do our operations or starting Pulaski County because we're working through some questions ideas of ways we think that will prove the work environment for workers help us retain those workers longer and get them in and get them to stay with us for a long period of time and so yes ma'am that's that is exactly what this is intended to help us with so what is the turnover rate right now. I do not read in the paper sixty five percent at before I heard forty I'm just trying to figure out what the turnout rate turnover rate is right now because I think we're going to have to address this more as a body because we cannot continue to have good services if you will if we don't have people working there yes I have I miss Martin is our director of children family services she can address that is Martin how are you get thank you good morning I'm Mr Martin I'm the Director of the Division of Children and Family Services to answer questions about turnover more specifically in plastic county with their family service workers last year we experienced a hundred and five percent turnover it across the state as you sign the paper for family service workers it was sixty five percent and per or program assistance which are Sir from workers sixty three percent. Yes. The forty percent was was was that mind boggling and I saw in the paper said there must be a misprint no ma'am because they're saying sixty five and are you telling me over a hundred and five percent in Pulaski County is this to address that and if so what is the long range plan so that we can stabilize services for those folks who really really needed and depend on us to do so it is one part of a much bigger plan as as mark stated we have ask for additional positions this year as well as we'll be asking for additional positions in the next and our budget request and that is to do a teaming approach Senator completely restructure how do case work together as family service workers more support so just at a simple level right now a case worker is responsible for the entire case but with these additional positions every family service worker and this is a pilot project and Lasky would be assigned a program assistant so and they would have a lower supervisor to staff ratio so you basically have two people for sure assigned to that case to be primarily responsible but then they would also have a lower and caseworker to supervise a ratio that is just one piece of the plan we have also increased injury rates and salaries for program assistance across the state we have implemented a career ladder and often the service workers you have completed training received a seven percent raise last week I'm sorry last night and we also are now paying over time as opposed to making workers bank comp time and we have implemented on cost and by which is all been approved by you all which is a significant as in our comprehensive organizational health assessment from two thousand nineteen on calls when the main reasons we lease staff and it's very difficult Pulaski County it's one of our hardest counties on call is and so now they're getting paid twenty percent of their I really rate for every hour they're on call and supervisors were not previously paid that so not only workers but as well as supervisors plus they have a minimum of two hours of overtime response even if they. Respond for less than two hours started be complicated but it's a bit complicated they're doing. We are seeing you know a very comprehensive plan to try and address not only and retention but also be able to recruit staff as well Mr Mr could we have an update on this at the next meeting hi it's working at the next beer meeting at the next your committee. I think it's important because we're going to invest the money we need to know whether or not the program is working okay and I would just ask that we get an update as for this particular issues concerning the next access content mass they wanted something so senator tester practice at Chesterfield I just reported that children and youth and I gave them a report on reducing the number of children in foster care but it also outlined our strategies for workforce retention I'm happy to share with you that can say that with a committee as well if that by thank you Mr thank you thank you so much. Our members with any other questions or comments. All right seeing nine we've got a motion to approve item the one we've got a second all those in favor signify by saying aye those opposed motion carries. F. one. Thank you Mr a section for this year's services request however the the this item was pulled agency requests we're gonna move forward to section G.. And in section G. R. appropriation transfer requests there is only one of this is for the division of workforce services special language in the divisions appropriation bill allows a transfer of appropriation for promotional items after approve bail C. the Division quest transferring five thousand an appropriation to a line item for promotional items to allow the division to purchase items using their mobile units share that is their quest. Members to any questions on G. one any comments. Seeing none we've got a motion to adopt we've got a second any discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye those opposed motion carries remove on review items. Thank you Mr the first section for a few items this section H. these are cash appropriation increase request the first one each one is a letter from commissioner state lands this is request increase appropriation by a total of two million with one million each to their operate expenses and work and refunds line items according to the letter the new spending thirty is needed to conduct three years worth of options in a year and a half period as to make up for auctions that were cancelled due to covid the next item is H. two this is on page three it's a letter from the department of health it's requests increase appropriation by two thousand and you spent three will allow the department to make contributions to retirement benefits for the second director of the board of hearing it's a board of hearing instruments Dispenser's next item is H. three the letter from the department of Veterans Affairs answer requests increase preparation by one point five million it is being thirty will cover operational costs related to staffing needs for the Arkansas state veterans home next item H. four is for the department of corrections in its request increase preparation by seven point five million news being thirty allow the department to make purchases for commissaries for adequate inventory to continue commissary operations next item is on page six this is a letter from Ozark a college age five this is a request increase progress about one point nine million it is being thirty will allow the college to expand grant funds. And H. six is on page seven is from the department of commerce economic development mission it's request increase preparation by seventy thousand The New speeding thirty allow the commission to purchase three vehicles. Next item is H. seven on page eight it's a letter from the Department of Parks heritage tourism it's requests increase appropriation by eighty four thousand The New spent already allow the department to pay regular salaries to match of the program coordinator for historic preservation according to letter change law as the department to collect fees to cover personal costs to administer the federal in Arkansas tax credit program sure those are the cashless. All right thank you members do we have any questions on any of the items in section H.. Hi. All right seeing none of we are motion review of got a second all those in favor signify by saying aye those opposed motion carries. Thank you Mr chairman section I this is the budget classification transfer requests. The first item is initiative also the courts it's request transfer hundred two thousand from conference and travel to operating expenses the transfer is needed due to training and support events being conducted virtually the next item number two is for the private parts here just towards on its request to transfer ten thousand eight hundred from professional fees operating expenses according to the request the section has no currency for professional fees and appropriation is needed in offering services for IT purchases maintenance contracts and archival supplies sure those rather Beastie requests. I thank you members of any questions or comments. Seeing none got a motion to review I've got a second all those in favor signify by saying aye All opposed motion carries. Share in the next section which I miss lance federal grants this is section J. of the first three that the G. one three G. three or for the department of commerce insurance divisions is Medicare enrollment. And I'm sorry the first four in the G. one three G. for and the total one point two million dollars they have multiple grants from the department of health and Human Services to continue application assistance through a low income subsidy program and to do average aimed at preventing disease and promoting wellness each grant is under some fairly funded and the next item to consider the on page five. On page five is requests for the department of health. this is requests for three hundred thousand appropriations been federal funds and to establish two positions we have a grant from the CDC to participate in surveillance data collection on COVID nineteen during pregnancy as to monitor the impact COVID nineteen some to mother and babies one illness course history and pregnancy and birth outcomes this item is a hundred and fairly funded. Nicks items G. six department education division of higher education it's requests for seventy four thousand in preparation to spend federal funds records that request a grant from the US department education was increased and this item is one hundred percent fairly funded. Next item is G. seven of this for the Department of Human Services division of aging. This request is for two point nine million appropriation they have a grant from the center for Medicare and Medicaid services to support the money follows the person program that helps eligible people living in long term care facilities transition back into the community or receive home based services this item is one percent fairly funded. Next item is eight numbered G. aids for the prevention Services Division county operations it's request for six hundred sixty four thousand the group of evergreen for the USDA to develop the snap employment training data collection reporting systems and this items under centrally funded. Nicks items G. nine department can services again Division calibrations it's request for little over two million preparation they also have a grant from USDA to support the snap longitudinal longitudinal data project by Satish the cloud based data system this item is item centrally funded. The next items G. ten department Human Services. This is again division can operations in its request for two point two million. We have another grant from USDA this time for the implementation and administration of the pandemic EBT project is items understand fairly funded. J. eleven is department public safety state crime lab it's request for sixty eight thousand they have a grant from the department of health to purchase equipment that improve toxicology testing for law enforcement coroner and medical examiner samples including overdose deaths is items under centrally funded. J. twelve is for the department public safety this is FOR voca it's request for a hundred fifty thousand they have a grant from department of justice to enhance state victim compensation payments to eligible crime victims this item is under centrally funded. Next item is thirteen two thirteen department agriculture its request for a hundred eighty seven thousand and they have a grant from the USDA to serve a supplement for secure funding for the department's veterinary diagnostic laboratory is items hundreds in fairly funded. Thanks items G. fourteen department education this division educational television this request for four point three million. They have a grant from the US department education to develop at least ten twenty two minute episodes for the cater to children's program in areas of social studies and science is items Anderson fairly funded. madam arms Jett is all the items okay. It's in Dotson you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chair item number eight the Department heating services yet DHS thank you. The mobile would recognize yourself and you're recognized for a question Nicks and Dotson thank you Mark the. I'm reading through the the blurb on this that says the Q. W. R. quarterly wage request record data. Is and I don't know if this is a typo or if it's Just missed spacing or something says data because it is the most reliable and efficient method to report requirements is it supposed to be. And efficient or yes Is efficient and efficient and okay Sir Sir I just want to clarify that we're not using it deficient path and thank you it's it's very observant. All right members to any other questions or comments on any of the items in section J.. All right seeing none got a motion review get a second all those in favor signify by saying aye All the CPOs motion carries a K. one. Thank you share inspection K. this is the PAYPLAN holding come transfer request. And this request for the department inspector general it's request for two hundred thirty two thousand a preparation for two positions previously approved by L. C. to perform already are the functions of the department chance rotation and that was required back to ninety two thousand nineteen there is one more items on the supplemental agenda is for an overtime requests of you can move to the supplemental agenda it's the last two pages of that packet. And there is no time requests for Arkansas state police this request is four hundred forty thousand appropriation to spend additional funding from FEMA for hurricane IT relief efforts in Louisiana. Thank you members of any questions on K. one or the supplemented General supplemental agenda item. All right seeing none. All right thank you members without objection of those items are reviewed will move on to the reports. The shares section L. the first report it's an annual port this is the carry forward unexpended balance of funding quest for a DHS special language in the department's bill requires report of the balance of an obligate general revenues and the transfer of funds to the pain account dedicated to senior citizen centers according to the report a hundred and eighty nine thousand was carried forward and will be distributed to senior citizen centers to help with of help them with any shortages the last page letter from the department that will show how the funds will be utilized. Members any questions on the report all right seeing none it's reviewed without objection. Next items are quarterly reports in one is a DHS interagency and inter divisional match fund transfers in this report shows a quarterly transfers as required and special language the report shows over three point one million in transfer from the individual division's funding counts to the corresponding grant payment accounts the next items into its office of Attorney General Castleman fun this report shows a quarterly cash account activity the report details for settlements and shows the balance of cash funds cash receipts and disbursements and transaction detail M. three is report for state police it shows asset forfeiture expenditures for each quarter of the fiscal year the first page of the report shows three thirty thousand nine hundred forty signatures for the first quarter out of the T. P. C. zero one hundred fun this is the phone for federal asset forfeitures in on the second page it shows zero expenditures in the first quarter out of the T. P. C. zero two hundred fine and this is the phone for state asset forfeitures. M. four and M. five or both federal grant applications and awards reports these reports show off federal grant applications awards by the state agencies in the first quarter of fiscal year twenty twenty two the M. six is the last call report and it's for eighty Q. it's a status report on the Bellavista hazardous waste removal this is report required by special language the agency received twenty million an additional appropriation and the ability to receive a loan a two million loan from the budget stabilization trust fund and that's to remediate the underground fires a bill of us to according to the report total expenses incurred by state today are one point three million no expenses were made in the last quarter all expensive paid out has a substance for me I'll trust fund and a loan from the budget stabilization trust fund was not required the Bellavista property owners association assumed ownership over the project and completed fire suppression in June twenty nineteen is currently working on restoration plans reports state agencies actively investigating potentially responsible party responsible parties who could be held liable to stay for costs of the remedial recovery actions at the site this year those are all the quarterly reports. All right thank you members when the questions on the reports aren't seeing none reports are reviewed without objection. The next section or monthly reports on the first one in one is a surplus incoming distribution report and show sources of unobligated funds and then distributions from the rainy day restrict reserve long term reserve funds as of the end of October there any day fund shows two point nine million distribute and I'm sorry and distributions and the balance of thirteen point six four million three straight Reserve shows a hundred five point seven million distributions and overall balance of sixty five point sixty nine million the total long term reserve balances one point two billion a billion into the budget was Asian trust fund report and it shows cash flow loans throughout the fiscal year as of the end of October there are twenty one point four million in outstanding loans and cash balances a hundred seventy one million in three is the tobacco settlement report and this gives a summary of income fund balances investments actual payments to the state on the second page all expenses by fiscal year end for is the state Central Services Fund report and this report shows the fund balance and disbursements as well as the expenditures of each agency supported by the fund in five as the American recovery plan report and this The reports required by special language it shows a requests that were approved by the A. R. P. steering committee I'm sorry the first changed as the first section of it and uh and that the soon to be has discretion in awarding chords report disturbing committee has approved four hundred sixty eight point eight million requests of the seven hundred eighty six point five six billion that was for received in the initial deposit American funds. As I'm sure there was uh five and thirty three point three me to look at last month's report so that was five U. three three point three million in request there are hundred forty one point four seven million pending on today's agenda and all those are approved that leaves a balance of nine hundred and twenty five million a preparation remaining should A. L. C. approve all the request that that was for the steering committee report on page three begins reported a R. P. funds that were sent directly to state agencies from various federal entities according to report one point two nine billion an appropriation has been awarded for these funds and the last four pages shall report of A. R. P. funds that were sent directly to institutions of higher education according to this report two hundred thirty four point nine million is an appropriation has been awarded sure those are all the reports. I thank you members many questions on the reports in that last one is when I think they were asking about what the balances were left so if you're wondering about the A. R. P. balances that's what you go to is in five with that any questions comments seeing none of the items reviewed without objection. And then members we have any other business questions or comments seeing none we are adjourned thank for your time today.