Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC)

Thank you any other discussion out by please. I will recognize Senator Irvin of foreign ounce month members. We quiet down we're gets business done thank you. Thank you Mr chair and members of the Committee I wanted to make an announcmenet today we had scheduled a Senate and house Education Committee meeting to look at the issues surrounding what occurred this week with one of our student athletes I am going to reschedule that meeting for November the sixteenth at three PM for a more thorough process I'm very grateful to all the parties involved have been in contact with them and and my intention is really for us to assist in bringing forward I think some needed reforms I'm grateful to the legislators that represent these different schools and their involvement engagements a route what was happening this week with this young man I'm pleased that he's now eligible I'm really appreciate his parents and their advocacy for ham but I think according to the statement that was released by the north little rock school district in the Pulaski County special school district superintendent state outlines some issues that R. as surrounding this process that we really do need to engage on we are probably the biggest stakeholder and public school education and so because of that and because of this public call for the different reforms and needed clarity and black and white procedures involving our kids and our students and transferring yeah I'm happy and grateful to work with the triple a the legislature and the different superintendents who have engaged on this issue and work through that this week with this with Mister Smith so without meeting will be November the sixteenth at three PM thank you Mr chair. Thank you we now have presentation of the revenue report. we we do need to approve the minutes the look those over if I have a motion for the minutes last meeting. I have a motion. I have a motion and second thank you all in favor aye thank you members now we're going to the monthly. Revenue general revenue report Miceli standing. We also have Mr John stand it members of the second item after a miss Stennett Mr shallot is available it's not something that takes action you've got questions only Official general revenue forecast Mr tenet will be there to table to answer questions the standing you're recognized. Thank you good morning at least in it pure of Legislative Research. That the Arkansas revenue report for September twenty twenty one. Gross general revenues are down two point two percent cumulative year over year so this is the first three fiscal months of this year. Net general revenues are down two percent and a net available for distribution is down one point one percent. On the second page you can see that we are two hundred and forty nine point one million dollars about the forecast now the forecast has been revised and that will be reflected in next month's report but for now that is an accurate number the forecaster vision date was in October. On the third page you can see that gross receipts taxes are up ten point four percent and total income taxes are down nine point nine percent I'll be happy to take your questions. Are there any questions for remember. Seeing none thank you for your support any questions for Mr Schell. The no questions that both you for being is for. Members with. Without objection We're gross Skip over and do the supplemental agenda why we've got everybody here if you look at that on your last page be looking at that I am going to recognize my co chair he's back in his chair or his or the executive subcommittee report first. Thank you Mr the executive subcommittee met September twenty second twenty third and heard public comments relate to its ongoing employee health benefits study subcommittee met again on September twenty ninth and reviewed the broadband consulting service contract between eighty CM broadband development group LLC this review was final under the authority granted to the subcommittee by full LC subcommittee met again on September thirtieth and October fourth and reviewed and approved emergency rules for department of health emergency medical services and state board of nursing I move adoption is report. I have a second part in any questions on executive report. Not all in favor aye. Posed thank you for that Now members if you go back to the supplemental agenda on your last page and first up we have a. Hina motion. We we do need a motion to suspend the rules take it up this time and motion Senator Irvin second Senator Bledsoe all in favor signals a I. Posed thank you for that and you know. We have somebody coming up for you a M. S. if you will to present at a may. Thank you for being here if you're recognized yourself. You're recognized president. Thank you Mr chairman Michael Carrick with UAMS office institutional relations per your poor your mock up there complaining to me to for not being in my mind there we go is that better yes thank you. City very build city road will have been reviewed the Phillips County proposal we're asking to be held at this point in time for further review these are consistent with other contracts that have come forward about IT H. I. and we're seeking approval for mail so you today. Okay members for further or This Is cares about money and again item three is a pool at this time uh center by asking me representative Dotson person and center Esther. Richmond dot you're recognized thank you Mr chair At. Maybe I missed is that the what this is is this for a consultant for broadband or isn't this something that would be covered under the consultant we just hired. No service to the different proposals that have been coming out that are up to this amount these are consistent with other proposals that have been that have come through IT H. I. previously so it's for implementation of a broadband by a vendor right okay thank you. Senator Hester. Thank you on your point Phillips County and debate are they good with that they know there are some things with yes Sir they're they're aware that there's further review that's necessary in a proposed okay not nineteen ninety ninety concerns just maybe hold up for a month or something working Thursday were hold and hold it up to work through some issues okay thank you. Senator church for you you're recognized Senator Hester is really ask my question since Phillips County is one of those areas that is totally underserved. What is the anticipatory said of getting down broadband with this old up of this particular grant. Well as a Gen IV it's my understanding there were some additional questions that came up in the process that I anticipated having resolved you know and having this back before their hopefully the next I'll see meeting thank you thank you Mr thank you Senator Hester thank you. Saying no more questions on that I have a motion to approve eighty one in two. I have a motion Senator English as a second. Represent Ladyman all in favor aye. Opposed thank you for presenting to thank you Mr. And Mr really pair issue will come up and you're recognized president. Thank you Mr going to disability and that this is exhibit be at the last page on your big L. C. packet. B. exited B. it's very last page in the in the entire package deals the packet. The exhibit be. And the the very last page. This is a request for overtime for the department corrections it's for three million an appropriation according to the request if the increase is necessary due to unforeseen and and budget issues as a result of the pandemic which have led to staff shortages driving utilization of overtime and this is a review item. Questions from members. Representative will you're recognized. Mister chairman I have a question after he completes his presentation and finalize a. Okay go ahead Mr. We're going to. Okay members will need to have a vote on well do have some other Senator Hester. Question for. Mr Parrish. Yes this is request for appropriation do you have the funds or you'll be seeking the funds from somewhere the the the the the Department correction has the funds with or seeking justice being authority to spend those funds thank you. Representative ray you're recognized. Thank you Mr it says on here the current outstanding overtime liabilities are approximately nine hundred thousand what what's the reason for the the three million. A number if if the liabilities are not behind nine hundred thousand to get a really specific answer have to defer that to the US to the Department but from what I understand this will get them through the rest of the fiscal year so they need to cover these liabilities moving forward until the end of the fiscal year. Thank you. Senator Hammer you're right thank you Mr what was the source of their funding that they're taking this out of or or to come in from. Senator at the I'd have to defer that to the Department thank we find that out Mr. we have somebody from our directors here. Secretary Sullivan if you recognize yourself. Enter question the morning Mr members of the council if I may clarify the answer to represent a raise questions before I deserves a member this request is two hundred thousand will get us through the end of this calendar year in talking with D. F. and a we agree that this was the most prudent approach and would allow us to address this issue in a more formal way during the fiscal session to get us through the remainder of June thirty I just want the council to know that this will only get us to the end of the calendar year two Senator hammers question we're paying this out of salary savings unfortunately our of vacancies continue to be a challenge for the department so we just need the appropriation we have sufficient so salary savings from vacancies to cover this additional overtime payment. Would you check ACT I couldn't quite understand where did you say it's coming out of salary savings due to vacancies okay and and the. challenges I think was the way the term what which uses that just because of the shortage that you had compounded by COVID or what what was it that address to the pandemic has has do definitely compounded our recruitment challenges we we are working with the FNA and TSS on how we can address those long term but this is unfortunate the need for additional overtime authority is unfortunately a five byproduct of vacancies right thank you thank Mr. Representative was your question on the peer report that Mr first beginning on this item. No it's a it's another question if I may as it is. Maybe maybe you could have it on the department of correction that will involve the of you okay let's let's I am honored to partner correction first we can and we'll come back to you at all right members or any other questions on this the. Preparation department correction. Not saying I have a motion center a second. Okay you have a question center a yeah I recognize I thought I had time that already I'm just when when we when we started back on the. March of twenty twenty at that point where we were shut down. Was out department of correction already short of folks of of. Staff. Yes Sir a yes ma'am I'm sorry I'm sorry says senator of the. How you ma'am is stealing all morning. yes yes yes ma'am we were already short during the pandemic we spiked to over thousand vacancies were right at twelve hundred C. O. vacancies right now. Well that because that's really a crucial thing I think because we started that when we're at our best point we would we would start on staff announced it's gotten worse yes and when we come to the fiscal session when you say we're going to work it out in the fiscal session what does that mean exactly of we will be asking for we will likely be asking for a supplemental requests to carry our overtime authority through June thirty and we are as so we'll departments are right now working through the logistics of implementing the compensation agreed that the council employee authorized earlier this summer and figure out what the budgetary impact of long long term is going to be on the Department and how we can sustain that okay that's good to know because I I it's just stands to reason you're not going to be resolved this problem between them the fiscal session and so we shouldn't be shock from the news coming fiscal session that we still are dealing with this but in a more long term actions where we are today set correctly characterized yes ma'am are over is a stop gap it allows me to pay staff that are covering those posts that we have to cover twenty four seven long term we're going to have to look at our of positions in what we need to do to remain competitive within the law enforcement sphere specifically but in this very tight employment economy Jenin generally and I don't want to answer this question to you can tell me in a time later but I'd like to know when was the last time ADC was fully staffed at the point that it should be but be honest center we are. Would it have the easiest way for me explained that you know as as you know we have to pay due differentials what is me for interrupting but really and truly I don't want to use the committee's time but this you can tell me this later I have to have an answer right now but I just like to know about thank. Senator just for you you're recognized. Hello thank you Mr graves you're talking about the need for more overtime that I'm seeing here from a report that you did not implemented the. The increase for those who are making the least amount of money yes why is that and and that's what I was alluding to was Senator Elliot we're working we're still working through the logistics of how we fund those increases even down twelve hundred employees I've still got nearly three thousand employees that are that would be eligible and we've got to figure out not how we do that today but how do we sustain that a year from now and and two years from now also because we use a our our classifications are ranked C. O. one to major in there is no intervening grade between those ranks we're also having to identify potential ways of reducing the impact of salary compression so consistently have subordinate staff member making a higher starting salary then their supervisor. Interesting I thank you will I guess we'll do that another time. Thank you senator saying no more questions I may save secretary graves noticed in the paper this morning lost one a the deal see family in center Bobby Glover yes Sir and reshaped comments a I read on that many of us as New Senator rubber recommend Manu very committed to serving the Arkansas and in English but will serve deal seeing in law enforcement and the he will be remembered and missed yes yes Sir thank you for that thank you. All right members of saying no more questions the end of the motion for a preparation to amend our budget senate a. I have a second. I got a second all in favor aye. Okay opposed thank you secretary grace for enter our questions we do appreciate your service. Okay. Right Mr person if you will go to own with your presentation on. I wish you may represent put not a bad bout for got you you are recognized for a question okay. Mr one point of information of the leadership may have already been briefed but I was curious to know what we're we stand on this ten million dollars scale that took place between DFA and you A. M. S. and that group out of the genuine or will will this bother you look into that or have you all been briefed on that Mr. we have not. Do you have anything on that we do not have a what we would check in is that see what committee that will be used to I just feel like we need to the testimony is to be briefed on that I'm an S. ten million dollars but in advance. And did we approve that contract. Okay I will look into that for next month that's all right and and one of the surprises in that it was a company that had previously done business with a neighbor that was no problem but something went wrong but we will work on that to get report. Okay thank you Mr chairman I just I'm just I'm just. Concern about to the agency's reaching out and being. And we NO in this in the citizens of Arkansas in scam of ten million dollars yes Sir thank you Sir thank you. Okay Mr burgers I wish you. English got a question I believe in answer to your question of this the Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against that company so it's. So that's been going on for a while but it there is there is action being to that that's correct but we need to know when understand Senator how it took place hi how did we manage to pay ten million dollars one of the keys factors. That you hear continuously deal on seven on your side and any disaster situation do not pay in advance. I realize the pandemic was a special situation but that's ten million dollars that would do we know this company did we know anything about. And and who who approve the contract we did it come through the performance review did did did you AMS student due diligence on who they were dealing with I mean this is ten million dollars that I feel like we need an answer to why are. The house is to cover you know the contract requires that we paid ten million up for a I just feel like we need to the you know we need to. Look at it a lot closer and find out what do we need to do in the future to prevent that from happening. And I realize it is in court and the Attorney General may not be able to comment on it but the agencies can give us information relative to how and why it happened we will refer request input for report on it Richmond wouldn't I do think it deserves that as far as the process many people remember there was a lot of stuff going on probably loose at the time because they just couldn't secure enough emergency that supplies but again process and we need to know what that was thank you for that we will work on getting a report on that. All right Mr will back you for the rest of your thank you Mr we're back in the regular agenda this is section F. one eighty this is the various Sabri appropriation requests. These request agencies to increase their spending authority above what is authorized in the appropriation bill appears in pre preparation question why approval by L. C. and there's just one on today's agenda it's on page two of the peer packet it's for the department the letter for the department Education Division of elementary and secondary education this correct this requested to increase appropriation by thirty five million. Into the letter the increase in spending authority will allow it transferred to the employee benefits division to support the public school employees health insurance program for the council's information the funding comes from a thirty five million restrict reserve fund release that was to the division the LC approved back in June. This was after seventy million deficit was projected by actuaries in the public school employee health insurance plan. The members not seeing any questions and I have a motion to approve this latest separate motion. A motion Senator English as a second. Second represented Ladyman all in favor I. Proposed item one A. of is approved. Continue. Do you next thank you Mr were in the next section this is F. one B. these are American rescue plan Act requests. The American rescue plan act as a federally package passed in March of this year a new appropriation category and special language was an act in the last session requiring state agencies to request new spending authority use federal A. R. P. funds. Into the cover letter by the CFO the first thirteen requested by agencies to spend 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 request require prior approval by ale C. the first item is on page five it's a request from the issue Jonesborough is to spend four point one millionaire funds according to the letter on the next page of funds to be used to make the relief grants an extra questions on page eight. This item is for a issue Mountain Home it's request to spend nine hundred and seventy five thousand according to their letter they also please funds provide direct grants to student for emergency relief and they will also make technology purchases and expenditures the next item is on page twelve. One page twelve is request mark the tech is to spend one point one million in a R. P. funds the fund to be used to provide specialized training and support for hybrid online and High flicks course delivery according to the explanation the funds will cover salary and benefit stipend student labor and classroom instructional technology upgrades the next item is Page fourteen. In this items request for you This is this been a hundred fifty one thousand the fund to be used to maintain programming and services when you lease to noncommercial educational radio stations. The next item is on page twenty. Page twenty is request for a university of Arkansas community college at hope Texarkana. This is a request to spend a hundred eighty seven thousand A. R. P. funds and he's going to be used for lost revenues in our facility services intuition of fees. The next item is on page twenty two. This request for the university of Arkansas community college at Batesville on page twenty two and this is to spend one point one four million A. R. P. funds the fund to be used to improve IT infrastructure to recover lost revenue and for payroll reimbursement the next item is on page twenty five. On page twenty five is request for H. U. mid south is to spend twenty seven thousand the funds be used to provide reimburse you for contact tracing services. The next item is on page twenty seven. This is a request for the department of health and age twenty seven it's it's request to spend two point seven million and to establish two positions. Funds to be used to hire staff and establish a dedicated advanced molecular detection laboratory section is that you would increase sequencing capabilities and microbial genomics and bioinformatics and enable faster data exchange reporting responding to cope nineteen and other emerging infectious diseases. The next item is on page twenty nine. On page when I's request for issue Three Rivers it's request to spend eight hundred and twenty seven thousand A. R. P. funds and they would use the funds to make direct grants to students for emergency relief and make reimbursements for equipment PPE supply software AC units personal services in distance learning. The next request is on page thirty three. This items for DHS division of child care early in childhood education. It's request to spend four point five million and to establish three positions the funds we used to hire staff improved data systems and provide administrative support to implement the child care program for essential worker families. The next item is on page thirty five. This is also the chest it's requests been eleven point two million A. R. P. funds the funds are one time federal medical assistance percentage or F. map to serve elderly disabled and those with behavioral health needs but will concentrate on three areas report stabilization for home and community based services technology in education and administrative support. The next item is on page thirty eight. On page thirty days to request for a issue Jonesborough and this is for reallocation and a net increase of ninety nine thousand in the R. P. appropriation records requests four point one million was awarded previously by Pierre Nailsea four H. FAQ projects because of a backlog supplies needed for the project to be completed in a timely manner the request is to transfer or re purposes and add another ninety nine thousand to use for reimbursement of lost revenues. The next item is on page forty. Page forties request for Henderson states to spend six point three million they are P. funds and these funds be used to provide direct grants to students for emergency relief answer reimburse for lost revenues. The next item is an award from the A. R. P. steering committee this through the state and its on page forty three. P. forty threes request for DFA disbursing officer it's request to spend six point three million in a R. P. funds awarded through the steering committee funds will be used to make payments to Arkansas boys and girls clubs schedules get a schedule showing all the clubs that will receive funding is attached in the list the programs is also attached to this request Mr those are all the A. R. P. requests. We have some questions the only A. R. P. appropriation representative gray you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair I just have a question about the a issue Jonesborough reallocation an additional request is Reimbursement for lost revenue is that an allowable expense with our with funds I know with the cares Act it was not yes ma'am it is okay thank you. Representative Dotson you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair of this question is for issue Henderson. I guess R. State University. Broadway's you're recognized yourself thank you Mr chairman chair Broadway issue system you're recognized. Thank you so this six point three million dollars looks like half of it is going toward grants and aids for students correct and then the other half is lost revenue reimbursement correct will you be using a I I'm of this assuming that these funds are eligible to be spent to repay loans is there a a percentage of this that you're looking to allocate toward repaying the six million dollar loan from the state for operations. The that do being able to use these funds to replace lost revenue will help in allowing us to eventually pay back that loan yes Sir without these federal funds we would continue to be short this fiscal year so this will allow us to improve the bottom line that will continue to assist us in repaying the six million dollars back to the state I don't know that this money per se is a representative Dotson I'd have to find out information but this will go to helping us make it through the fiscal year because you by two years of lost enrollment due to cope with right so this is keeping the doors open lights lights on but it has helped us to our last year we were able to make the first payment of two hundred fifty thousand towards of six million because the commitment is to continue making our payment towards paying that all. I appreciate that and it maybe we can get this afterwards but I would love to see at any commitment. Based off of this if we approve this today that that another quarter million or or more could come out of this to keep that repayment coming thank you you're welcome thank you Mr. Dotson. Okay members of got five and Q. somebody saying we've got a more questions for Mr Broadway. I'm going to go to. Senator Hammer you're recognized. Thank you. The of the the payment that's been made toward six million is the. It's just the one two hundred fifty thousand dollar one correct that was made at the end of last fiscal year center and is made timely. Where where are payments are on time. And the language says from time to time so there's not a requirement that it be paid the only requirement in the law is that be paid back by twenty twenty eight. Okay we're making those as we can as and most of that will take place at the end of the fiscal year when you see how much money you have at the end of the fiscal year to make that payment. And as far as in rolling down it Henderson is that I know you Covic Castro ranch in everybody's enrollment some more than others but it has the problems of which you've inherited are they stabilize into where Roland now is either plateaued Ridge increasing or. Not yet in Rome still down again this fall for several different and assorted reasons our hope is we have a great team I've been a part of some other events in the last few weeks great team assembled is out recruiting students up and said we've all been assisting with that I feel better about next fall especially if we can get through some of the code issues but so I there's a will have a new chancellor on board hopefully January first that process just wrapped up yesterday interviewing the final three candidates and so the pieces are starting to come back together I guess what I'd say Senator that still of still a long road back for Henderson okay all right I don't I told this to a group of the day I use the term we we had to take it down to the studs and build back there's been a lot of institutions who have been through a financial crisis I've been here for for some of those nobody's ever done it through a two year pandemic so there's not a book you know really to go by and so we're kind of having to to do it as we go but it but we've got to we got a great team assembled they're working hard and used to get people who are getting paid less and losing money in your retirement and still working at that institution and I admire him greatly okay thank you. Representative majoring. Thank you Mr chairman I have a question and a follow up my question kind of sticking with Henderson state university the the grants for relief grants for students or what exactly is that going to go for what what really for we providing and this goes for all estheticians represent makes half of the R. proponents that all of us received half of that has to go to students each institution because there's different needs based on these different campus has come up with their own different formula for how they're going to distribute those funds most of it is based on need per the requirements of our so students who were a pale recipients are probably going to receive more editing institution not just Henderson because it has to be based on need is is been the prevalent idea that everyone is used is that going for books tuition or is it just you know here's a check for the students to. And that's that's part of the reason why we're going through this process we can't tell the student. Under the rules and laws we can't tell the student what to do with the money the money goes directly to the student's account. We do remind them that they have an outstanding bill or they have these kinds of things the original plan was that they were going to get a check from DFA and they were going to know what they got a check for me probably would have never paid their bill so thankfully Apollo ten and Speaker and and Senator Hickey everyone work together because we can at least when they get that checked reminding you to have a bill we can't tell them they have to pay it but we can remind them that they still owe a balance to the institution the governor at nine followed Mr. the other question I have is on the Arkansas tech university and I don't know if you're the. Who would be the best person to. Okay the no other questions for Mr from. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Yes. Please recognize yourself. Push your your button there. Jeff Roberson associate vice president of academic affairs Arkansas tech. Laurie Fiorello vice president of admin and finance Arkansas tech representative makes thank you both for being here might the question I have is it looks like you are looking to spend a little over a million dollars to go for hybrid online classes and I guess what I'm wondering is about half that looks like it's going towards stipends and almost a quarter of its going to professional fees so are these new programs you're standing up and that's why we have the expense verses if you've already got the classes set up I'm wondering why do we need additional funds weren't they covered under that so that kind of makes sense what I'm asking yes absolutely of the funds are to incentivize incentivize faculty to develop courses in a high flex mentality and for those that don't know high flex would involve delivering courses in three modes simultaneously. Asynchronously online. synchronously streaming to remote location or your home or face to face in the classroom where students can choose either one of those modes each and every day they're class so to upgrade classrooms with the technology to create a more resilient catalog of courses for delivery during a pandemic or natural disaster or things more mundane like a building being out for electricity personnel issues and also to pay GA's in. Say multimedia or instructional technology to help in the classroom for that type of delivery so sounds like its new programs and that they are set now well or or no not new programs converting existing courses an existing programs for hi flex delivery okay all right thank you thank you Sir. there any more questions for tech. Thank you for being here next question from representative fight who is it for. Thank you Mr chairman question is on page thirty three. It's two part I'm wondering if these are full time permanent positions and I'm also wondering if the salaries are an allowed use of Opeth things. Okay it said DHS division of child care and early childhood somebody here. Thank you for being here please recognize yourself and after representative fights with. I Tonya Williams director the Division of child care and early childhood education mark white Digest I think I heard the question and represent a fight but these are positions that are temporary during the funding there through the American rescue plan expanding so they're only during the duration of that funding these three positions are for helping with the capacity building and supply building for child care so they're things that we don't currently have in place where they would be going out to work with industry and communities to develop childcare programs in those communities that have desert or have very little resource. Follow up. It seems that would be very difficult to get someone to come in and do this knowing that it's going to be a short term position am I correct in that. Well it's new for us so I don't know that but I have heard from some folks who seem to have some interest if there is a possibility for that and there is some work happening in our state with some partners that I've been working with the chamber and of course or working with and department of commerce and I've had some conversations with them so I'm hoping that we'll be able to attract insects we tried to put it at a grade that would be and it certainly is is within the salary that is currently in the OPM schedule under thank you the pharmacist at this all good good good way for folks to get experience with us and so we frequent people come to these more temporary positions bill to experience of applied elsewhere the Department portion we're always looking for good people right thanks. Okay any other questions. Thank you we're just minute Senator Hammer. Thank you thank you. Is this this is as I read this this is to go out and try to hire. Individuals to provide the the child care to the central need workers in my misreading that or is that right there are there really two parts senator Hammer there's part of the funding for existing programs where they can do expansion so you have a building maybe you're not using a part of that building and you want to grow your program in that case it would be working with that program to help because we have never had this ability to help with start up costs frankly we don't ever have funding for that and the Federal talk your committee the other part is supply building or capacity building working with the industry caught we've been working with commerce they're doing a survey to industry right now to sort of establish you know what industry is saying and where we might start to look at and we do have maps of where they're desert's of places for there isn't any child here are very little child care so they would be working with both industry and potentially child care partners to establish a program in that community because from the people of my district that have child care centers their biggest problem is funded help to come in and if and we're going to put money into a program where the current daycare centers are not able to operate a capacity because they can't get the help to be able to get fully staffed. It's not that the kids are there they can't take them in. Is this money does it have flexibility to increase the salaries of the workers in the current one to where they can entice people to get back to work or what are the restrictions of the money that's a great question and last month we brought the biggest part of these funds almost four hundred and. Whatever Fortner sixty million I believe was the total last month. In that funding we put forty million into the teach scholarship program that already exist to build capacity and we've also raise the rates that we pay for child care assistance to help offset the cap salaries in a permanent not a one time funding because it wouldn't be sustainable okay thank you. Okay. Any other questions for for these presenter. Gave not to thank you for being here Senator Elliot your who's yours for. Yes I have a question for Of for the our boys and girls club. The. On page I guess it's. Thanks forty five. What what area. Look like a familiar face if you usually recognized so. Thank you Mr Chris Richey. boys and girls club link County but today for the Arkansas lots of which you're. I'll try to answer well I know you're really appreciate because I meant to ask you this question helps you but we will be moving fast Do you have information on. Which boys and girls clubs are included in this. In central Arkansas. With the is the boys and girls clubs of Central Arkansas organization which is to my understanding most of the little rock and north little rock so it would be whatever sites however many sites they have. Listed they say six sites yes this is so so that I don't know that I don't know all the the names of their projects specific sites okay Cindy during this is This CEO for that organization that's who I need to call to find out exactly how much that should be all of their sites that they have to send is issues not here today no that's why you're there yes I have. Okay all right I I will check in with her then okay see that was harmless. Thank you. That's it for me Mr. Resume Ladyman who's you for. Okay recognized. Thank you Mr chairman I don't know who's questions for. May not be for you. I'm I think a one for you okay no my question is this is great but you know we have most of this is central and southern Arkansas it looks like to me so you know northeast on about northwest but yeah we have some standalone clubs that do similar things to the boys and girls club that's different organization so my question is you know what's the eligibility requirements so we have a standalone. Clubby in Jonesborough that does the same thing are they eligible for this these funds and with a just need to apply I don't know if you can answer this. I like it I mean this came from the Arkansas lots of boys and girls clubs is for boys and girls clubs chartered organizations there's been questions about other organizations that YMCAs things like that and they they can apply for for funds as well this these are specifically go to boys and girls clubs so stay with boys and girls clubs of America in with our alliance and so could you just a nonprofit organizations that correct not government. The boys and girls clubs yes yes or nonprofit organization yes Sir okay thank you. You saying no other questions the. The. You have something in this chair of the they just informed me that those the independent clubs would just have to make an application to the the the steering committee for awards. Okay thank you for being here mistreat you appreciate your. Sir Richard good Serra. All right I'm not saying any more questions for the You're reading the would take a motion for all islands on B. for American rescue plan appropriations. I have a motion and a second. I have a second all in favor aye. Post thank you. Okay members now we are going on to item C.. Federal grant applications. Thank you Mr chairman section C. F. one CD's or miscellaneous miscellaneous federal grant requests. These request agencies to spin up to increase spending authority for federal funds resulting from an unanticipated federal grant award the request for appropriation only. The first item is for the department of labor licensing is the appraisers board. This is a request for a hundred sixteen thousand appropriation to spend those funds they have a grant from the federal financial institutions examinations council to digitize records make technology upgrades IT ten conferences hire investigators and more this items hundreds in fairly funded. The next item is the Department of Education Division of higher education this is on page fifty one it's request for four point five million appropriation. They have a grant from the department of health and Human Services to increase funding for the career pathways initiative program the fund to be used to update the program database provide professional development and provide marketing for the program this item is one hundred and federally funded. Thanks items on page fifty three this is a request for DHS to vision of aging adult behavioral health. And this request is for seven point two million appropriation they have a grant from the substance abuse and mental health services administration to decrease workforce shortages improved access to mental health treatment services and enhance services for crisis care this item is under centrally funded. The next item is on page fifty five it's again a request by the justice in aging. And this request is for ten point seven million an appropriation they have another grant from the substance abuse and mental health services administration this time for the state opioid response program funds be used to reduce opioid overdose related deaths and unmet treated needs for opioid use disorder by increasing access to naloxone medication assisted treatment in evidence based prevention treatment and recovery support services. Is IT was a valley funded. Next item is on page fifty seven it's for the office of prosecutor coordinator it's request for two hundred sixty three thousand appropriation they have a grant from the bureau of justice assistance to reestablish their original budget following a budget adjustment due to an administrative error. According to the request they had to return funds to the bureau of justice assistance due to lump sums being drawn when project activity started our phones are to be drawn over time as project costs are incurred the request will restore their budget after the corrections were made. Sure those are all the image your question today's agenda. Okay members don't see any questions on FC. I have a motion to review those. I have a motion the second second all in favor aye. Opposed the item C. is reviewed and now we go to the item the. Thank you Mr chairman section F. windy these are re classifications for the department of health. The first one F. one D. one is in in F. G. to A. R. P. reclassification in may here in A. L. C. review to request for an miscellaneous federal grant appropriation from the department health department has since learned that the funds were actually from the American rescue plan. The Department has resubmitted those items as Eric your question today's agenda the first one is requests for seventeen point four million this is on the next page it's different strategies ensure greater equity and access to the COVID nineteen vaccines by those disproportionately affected by code. The second question that's on page seventy three. Is for three point eight million air P. appropriation is to utilize existing media contracts with media outlets in underserved populations in rural communities to increase public confidence of Kobe nineteen vaccines and reinforce basic prevention measures. Sure that's the first item. The representative gray you're recognized. I just have a motion at the proper time. I don't have anybody else in the future your motion. All right I move approval of the reclassification request a R. P. appropriation for seventeen point four and three point eight million for the health department. Okay the to proper motion Is Your indiscretion on the motion. All in favor say aye. Opposed. Motion passes. You're recognized representative grade you have some of the. Thank you in I'm I'm item if one the to you I move review of the reclassification request to a forty million MF G. for the health department and the return of the forty million A. R. P. appropriation for the health department to the DF in a a RP holding account. The question on the motion. I have a motion the second all in favor I. Those. Thank you. This minute but the center each. Who Senator Irvin. If you're recognized. Quick question I know that we have balances within that cares amount I cares money but also the R. A. R. P. account can we just can I just get that information at some point as to what those balances look like thanks. Okay thank you. Mr first thank you through for the marathon and you had this morning. Procedure. Presenting. In excess of the miss Kathy Smith will be presenting review. representative Dotson you're recognized. You Mr up before we move on past the the peer that you may S. U. A. M. S. Contracts that we approved earlier in the supplemental agenda. Would it be possible to get some further clarification from them on a question I asked earlier. Is on of UAMS is still in the room or not. There. Okay we have someone coming but. If you do so recognized many miss Smith. If you recognize yourself and then. Representative Dotson recognized question. More golden you and us Michael Carrick Review avis. Thank you guys over here earlier I'd ask you fees were consultants the these contracts work work for consultants or what they refer implementation of a broadband program and you said it was for the implementation hiring a vendor Reading that I'm sorry I was on the supplemental I had read through the details of it yet but upon further reading through it these two contracts that we approved for seventy five thousand a piece Look to me like they're actually for a consultant to improve our to come up with the plan which would be exactly what we just hired a vendor for over two million dollars to do statewide with boots on the ground and all of that so. Are these doing the exact same thing is what we are already doing I want to be very clear on that. At this time we can't to your third doing the exact same thing because we're not here from at this that we're still in discussions with. Are those ports about what that consultant will be doing but this is from the first round of funding and so in that process that they are required to have a consultants on board to help us lay off plan for the it's infrastructure to believe for the broadband. As I recollect part of the justification for US hiring consultant with boots on the ground for over two million dollars to implement a statewide plan was so that the seventy five thousand dollar apiece and every municipality across the state wasn't having to be spent so With that in mind I don't know what the exact process will be since we've already approved it would be a motion to expunge the vote I'd like to hold on to this until we get further clarification I'm not just approve these today if if at all possible Mr. The representative Dotson the The motion would take two thirds vote if you want to make that motion to take two thirds of the body what happened I would make a motion to expunge the vote by which we approve these earlier and then hold on to these until we get some further clarification on exactly how these consultants with merry up so we're not double spending money. You're recognized your motion is our second to the motion. I have a second discussion on the motion representative make sure recognized. Thank you Mr chairman and Germany making can maybe clarify this. When we approved seventy five thousand dollars for projects for the role ID what we're approving is for a detailed technical studies of individual projects to prepare those projects to move forward and to seek federal funding so those are very project specific. reviews that are taking place specifically only for that area there engineering studies whereas the consultant that we hired for two million dollars is to conduct a statewide high level overview so what we're talking about here is the difference between a statewide high level overview and. The seventy five thousand dollars are a very detailed engineering study on a specific project so we're talking apples and oranges in my correct on that. I believe that's correct. Yes. I'm. I believe that's correct Sir okay so we're actually talking apples and oranges here between these two. And so if we delay this until next month those are two projects to areas that would be looking at a one month delay in getting broadband out to their people that's correct okay so for that reason I would vote against this motion. Senator Irvin you're recognized. Just I wanted to follow up because representative Meeks and I were on a panel at the Arkansas rule development economic conference last week and I believe somebody from the city of Russellville who is affected by this now decision asked wind their grant I think they had it that they've been waiting on it for four months and asked when the legislature was going to approve it and so we express to him that it should be up before a L. C. this month so I just want the membership to know that that conversation did occur last week at the Arkansas real development conference with the people from Russellville and and they're enquiring about the grants so just for that information purposes they were probably expecting this and so the legislators from those areas might need to notify those officials if this is the case thank you. Did you have a response. Mr chairman we we want to make sure everyone's on board and my as my answer created confusion we want to provide an opportunity for clarification and are certainly out of respect for what representative Dotson says we're. We would like to move forward but I also understand the need for us to provide additional information and so we should we stand at the wish of the committee. It will take we wish to have a vote to to. Receive what we did but that what you're saying you're alright with doing that temporarily. Thank me is that affirmative yes K. anybody understand. That okay all right let's let's go ahead with discussion Senator check for you you're recognized thank you Mr chair one person does not a body make. We are very much interested in moving ahead with these we are so far behind in this state and broadband. And we have something that this body is voted on out and there's a unanimously even pull it down. Sir we will. We respect the wishes of the committee we would certainly like to move forward we also understand that there may be some additional questions we why we will just wait for a a vote of the body before you pull the day. I'm just speaking to to the room to representative Dotson's requests were respectful of whatever the committee wants to do my apologies for any confusion. A Mister chair I am opposed to the motion I think these are ready I think these communities need this and now. And that we need to move a pace they are a representative makes as explained that we're talking about two different things. And I was concerned about the Phillips County one being held up for another month. As we're talking about areas that are in desperate need of the services that are going to be provided. And for that reason I would vote against expungement. I ask that we move apace with those that are already ready and if these are indeed ready as the individual said they were. Why would we hold this up for another month thank you Mr okay and let me apologize I didn't product procedure because we have a motion on the floor representative Dotson I should not have asked those at the table to discuss it it is open for membership of discussion at this time so will go to the Senator Hammer you're recognized discussion on the motion. Okay Senator Ballinger you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair I I would just say that I I think that we've got I mean I don't even know what's going on as far as the like the things going on behind the scenes clearly there's there's something happening but I do know that my people in Berryville of been working really hard to try to get this grant for a long time they have nothing to do with all that they're just going to try to go out and apply and get money as of a couple of broadband people in rural areas in my district so yeah right. Like you happy to try to help people there's some legitimate thing that needs to be done with something else but I prefer you not to use this yeah my people grant as the as the mechanism or tool to. Okay represent Dotson you're recognized is on the motion. Thank you Mr chair So. Just reading through this consultant contract the the main the main issue the reason I brought up the motion was because we are hiring consultant we've got another consultant we just hired for over two million dollars to implement plans and and I understand. There might be apples and oranges comparison I'm just not a hundred percent sure yet from the the all of the testimony today and reading through this I want to get further clarification on that I'll remind you all that this is October the. Twenty eight so Elsie was delayed this month quite significantly and so we're talking about a couple of weeks about hiring a consultant that won't get a study back for at least six months so that's what this consultants about is hiring consultant to get a study back in the next six months. I'm not sure what a couple weeks differences is really going to matter to the project over all but if it it is in conflict if we can verify that obviously we've already approved it so takes a supermajority to approve it but going forward. Hopefully you M. S. will will take into account. The significant investment we have made in another consultant in order to get clarity on boots on the ground across the entire state and take that into consideration on any future seventy five thousand dollar deals because that was actually part of the selling point for us to approve over two million dollar contract for consulting so I don't know how this votes going to go I advocate for it I don't think it's going to matter a couple weeks difference to find out that answer is not a lot of money so as far as the overall consultants. Contracts that we we have approved throughout here all the time but I just asked members. All this up for just further study and it's something. I wish we'd had subcommittees this week so we could of of ironed all all these details and got these questions before we got into this format but I I certainly appreciate the committee's consideration and to ask for a good vote. Okay members I was ready for vote we've got four more three more on the board now Senator Davis you're recognized. Sir David you're recognized thank you at representative Dotson I you know that I hate to disagree with you on anything but I seventy five thousand dollars is a lot of money to the city of Russellville and we have put in that application quite awhile ago and when you're talking about already waiting to have something like this approved and then waiting a few more weeks when there are people across our city that don't have access to high speed broadband or broadband at all it's a really big deal we have kids that are still trying to learn remotely they're being sent home for quarantines and they don't even have access to get on and do their school work so and I would just argue that we're putting this and work this is consulting money that's going to cities or counties that are working specifically on a broadband plan for their area and every single day matters we're living in two thousand twenty one people still don't have access to broadband over fifty percent of our Kansans and every single day that we wait is another day that kids cannot do their school work people cannot work from home we lease opportunities of young people moving in our state that can do jobs remotely so I would argue this is a really big deal and we've been doing this program for a year and a half now and approving seventy five thousand dollar consulting fees to cities and counties to get the work done to bring broadband to their citizens and I would argue that we need to pass this today and let them get on with the work that they need to do thank you. Representar you're recognized. Thank you Mr Speaker of the chairman I'm going to speak in favor of the motion. It's it's been the concern a lot of people that when this money started flowing. That there was going to this concern there they're gonna be all these separate silos and and not a unified plan for implementing what we do all agree is an important issue providing broadband to the entire state we've already experienced the one example that representive wouldn't brought up where we probably hastily and without due diligence ended up putting out a ten million dollar I mean not just a contracted paying ten million dollars in advance and I think a representative Dodson's request is reasonable for us to make sure they were crossing all the teasing dot all the I's that we're not just setting up all of these separate silos to do their own thing in many cases where it is actually do duplicative and not using the resources of state agencies that we already have the broadband agency that you know we heard a report from in hot springs is supposed to be helping us with coordinating this and and yet we've got all of this money going out in different areas with the different directions with really not a tightened and honed in. Standard so I I the I agree that it it's not going to dramatically damage the progress is being made on broadband for us to to lay this so I I speak in favor of the motion to expunge. Senator English you're recognized. Thank you I moved for immediate consideration. As a non debatable motion of reconsideration of this vote for immediate consideration all in favor aye. Posed no. Okay me consideration is approved we will vote now on the motion of representative Dotson to resend. The previous vote on items eighty one and two. All in favor aye aye opposed. The nose have it do not have a the two thirds majority. The previous vote stands. We are now. Going on to Mrs Smith sorry to keep you waiting thank you gentlemen for coming back and being available. Izmit you're recognized to present review. Thank you Mr chairman I'm here to present Kathy Schmidt with the bureau I'm here to present your review items on today's agenda that's the F. O. two part of the packet the first thing or the methods of finance and on the first page of this packet you'll see the letter from DFA of acknowledging the that is a fine it's their standing over for your review on page two you have a darker college for H. back replacement ventilation upgrade fourteen sixty five thousand dollars they know that they have federal funds in reserve plant funds to cover that project essay you tech has a shoemaker hall in GM H. back upgrades a little over eight hundred thirty three thousand dollars federal funds as well as essay you tech with the technical engineering building H. back upgrades seven hundred sixty one thousand four hundred both of those are federal funds and they're coming from their higher education emergency relief grants you a community college Bates full age back remodel projects two and fifty thousand dollars they have operating reserves Mignolet. Members if we can list hold a tattered and respect miss Smith presenting thank you go ahead. Mister chair continuing on number five as UALR now Tory MP air handler to replace the two failed error handlers in the swimming pool they have cash to cover that and then there are two for UAMS the spine center neuro diagnostics Lowery location university reserves and revenue to cover that you and Institute of aging carpet replacement two hundred seventy three thousand a little more for unitards university reserves are going to cover that as well but we'll final two on page three are you a P. B. one is for new student center project three point one million dollars they have university reserves and the number nine is the U. APB track and soccer complex two point five million they know that they had the University reserves as well as federal funds and private funding for that project those are the methods of finance for review on today's agenda. Other questions. I have a. Is that a motion to approve from center just fill. Second from representive Ladyman all in favor on review pro will say aye. Post. Thank you members. Now for Adam be skiing that review a. And review. A to be. Next are the discretionary grant grants and there are three of them on today's agenda first is the department of health they have a grant amendment adding a hundred and seventy seven thousand eight hundred sixty four dollars to a federal grant that they have for a FMC and this is for technical assistance that they supply to support quality improvement work with Arkansas's twenty eight critical access hospitals next you have a nine grants for the Department of Human Services numbers one through three beginning on page five these are all going to be amendments providing federal funds to existing grants that they have to assist homeless individuals who have serious mental illness number four is a new grant to deter gang in a Roman among juveniles aged twelve to seventeen this is ordered to reduce violent crimes number five is a new grant to provide optimal health risk avoidance and healthy relationship education to ask at risk students are you incretin accounting number six is a new grant to establish a program to address that gap in serving at risk youth ages ten to seventeen in a signature program called Arkansas blaze youth academy move number seven is a new grant to establish an evidence based prevention program for parents and youth ages twelve to seventeen number eight is a new grant to develop a comprehensive approach to increase the number of drop out The Little River County and number eight is a new grant to support the development of used by addressing their need for positive adult contact in four counties and then on page eight you have a grant from the Arkansas beef council this is a grant for the Arkansas for state fair in Texarkana for twenty five thousand dollars paid from the Arkansas beef council's agency special revenues this is for programming conducted by the agricultural learning center to conduct year round and special programs related to both the beef industry. And baby product nutrition those are the grants on today's agenda. You saying no questions I have a motion to approve the to be on discretionary grants have a centrist bill motion second center representative Ladyman all in favor aye. Posed. Review Adam C.. Next are the services contracts on a legislative review on the page nine is the letter from OSP a knowledge in the contract that they're sending over for review the first grouping that we have on the agenda pages ten eleven or your construction related contracts there are two contracts there for DHS the first one contract number one has to actions on today's agenda for you amendment two and three or before the committee today the first one reduces funds and a DHS notes that this is was an administrative error in Amendment three adds funds for architectural design services at their Booneville human development center and then contract number two also for DHS this one as well has to actions of amendment three and four before the committee today amendment three adds the funding from the previous administrative error but also adds additional funds in Amendment for for architectural design services at the billable Human development center and these are different projects they're both with the same vendor but they were started at different times and so they are different projects number three is original contract for you a message over four point four million to develop and design for the orthopedics and sports medicine project and the fourth one is a new contract for the VA they are requesting design services five hundred seventy thousand dollars for their bird I Cemetery those or construction related contracts. Questions saying no questions on the item to see a motion to approve. motion just one minute got one question representative Cavenaugh you're recognized are we gonna be taking questions on all of these the we just we approved a and B. there are they all at separate motion we're on C. yeah but I honestly are we if you're going to take it one at a time on construction contracts is okay thank you. You got a question on construction contracts. Representative Ladyman your. Recognized thank you Mr. Thank you Mr chairman I get this may be for the agency but I was wanting to know. On this Booneville project of the status I mean I we're adding money here. Where is this project as anybody here from DHS could dress that. Both of you please recognize yourself. Thanks Karen Marquardt reviews services. Hi good morning Melissa stone and director for development disabilities services. Ladyman. Yeah I just my question is you know how are we doing on that project or is it that is being delayed for some reason. Question so I was actually able to go see it a few months ago We're making progress but like any other construction projects right now we are having some issues with getting our supplies in a timely manner and we actually had a problem with our electrical inspection and just a few weeks ago but we're still on track and to finish the completion February is what I was told last week. Thank you. The. Seeing no questions thank you. Thank. The other questions on item C.. Motion approved second. Their own favor I. Those. Passes. A mismatch. Mr chairman next we have the inter governmental contracts that's on page twelve and thirteen of the first one is DHS with UALR this amendment adds no money but it's correcting dates that correspond to specific deliverables to ensure federal compliance number two is the state police as an amendment that adds funds for the move system which is the mobile office or virtual environment and number three is a new contract for UALR with Colorado State for preclinical testing of bone void filler and those are the inter governmental contracts. The question on C. two. The motion pro. Second I'll favor I. Nexter out of state contracts pages fourteen through eighteen a number one is heritage this is an amendment for design fabrication and installation of an exhibit at the delta cultural center in Helena dealing with the community of Arkansas black Baptist number two is corrections that the amendment for waste disposal services that they're East Arkansas regional unit number three is the client crime lab and this is a new contract for post mortem talks OFC toxicology testing number four is DHS with eighty eight to address nursing shortage is sorted shortages skews me at Arkansas's chill of State Hospital and number five is an amendment for DHS with meds beer and this is for health records and patient billing system also at Arkansas State Hospital on page sixteen you have a contract number six DHS's new contract with GL lie for professional workforce development and training services to support the child welfare system in Pulaski County number seven is amendment for contracts for prior authorizations and retrospective review services for certain Medicaid populations number eight is a DHS amendment with into T. for information technology project management office and number nine is information systems as a new contract with Cisco as a project manager to can train continue to assist in completing the development of voice over internet protocol to state agencies number ten also is information systems without a new contract with Cisco this one is for work on the data center modernization project number eleven is public service commission they have a contract with silver point consulting to address utility winter weather events in the impacts on customers and best practices going forward and the number twelve you a fable for new contract for platform in business process assessments of existing C. R. M.. System for internal and external constituent management services those are the out of state contracts. Representative Cavenaugh you're recognized thank you Mister chair I have a question for the agency on number eight Human Services. Please recognize yourself. I thank Mr remark like to argue Services. Elizabeth Pittman apartment of Human Services division of medical services representative Cavenaugh thank you Mr chairman here to arrive on number eight we have that we have total after this review will be a hundred and twenty three million dollars the project had only been projected to be sixty three point five million so we have almost doubled what we projected on this project why such an increase in the amount of money that we're spending on this project. Right now I think the short answer is that the the scope of the contract has changed over time and this this vendor they help us with project management over IT projects and as we've added other IT projects we've added those to this contract for them to assist us in project management for those individual projects and all if I misstated that mistreatment correct me no that's absolutely correct for example in this amendment we're adding support for electronic visit verification project which is that and you were requirements from CMS so as we've gotten the requirements within Medicaid and other and other programs that NTT supports we've added funding. Follow up Mr. Greater. This contract just seems to grow and grow and grow and grow we're not saving any money to the state I believe in here there's fifteen million dollars for staff in part of this contract. Do we not is a state need to look at different ways that we can save money rather than staffing another company. Or as I cannot think this contract helps to save money because what what things they do is they help us ensure the for these massive IT projects that we are doing a good job of keeping those projects running they were being done the most efficient job we can I think the house heard to this would be to do a separate procurement for every individual project I think in the end that would cost the state more in taxpayer dollars and resources as you'd you'd be doing multiple procurements for each one rather than having one vendor that has this expertise in a set of skills that can be applied to other projects as they come up how do you know that you're actually getting the best bang for your Buck if you don't go out and get another be it if you're staying with one vendor all the time and I know you're staying with them what incentive do they have to give you the best price available to you for the project that you've got to do beyond the state being able maybe to do some of this are sales. Well they're turning their chosen on a competitive basis and there is is a limit on the contract cannot go more than seven years skews me so at at the latest at the end of a seven year period we would review this contract and have that opportunity to get a difficult for the vendors and there's and there's no limit on how much over a projected amount you bring to us that it continued to go over. It's entirely up to what whatever you is a committee agreed approach. Thank you. The representative makes regular. Thank you know may be able to answer that this is on number six the two and a half million dollar contract to establish a professional workforce development training service. Two. Transform the Pulaski County child welfare system sure if I if I can bring Mr Martin whose direct artificial family services up here and she can help with this. You're recognized seven as part thank you Mr Martin I'm the director of children and family services at DHS okay I guess my question is it's a two and half million to support the transformation of the Pulaski County office what we hoping to transform and and the chiefs of that transformation well we're hoping that star in Pasco county and it's not just about the Pulaski County staff and their development but we're also hoping to find some transformational change that can be applied across the state so they are meeting with stakeholders in looking at the complete front end of our system from hotline to what prevention services we offer to how we work with families and what really works we are making a significant investment but hoping that we'll have statewide implications okay so as far the transformation you're looking for greater efficiency savings better services that that's right as a nation really how we do the work so they will be doing some coaching and mentoring of staff but their first big task is completely looking at how we do the work and making some transformational suggestions or recommendations and they're meeting with more than Jess DCFS are meeting with the legal community with providers and reviewing our policies and practices and making recommendations about prevention and we look forward to hearing a report on the changes that come out to this thank you thank you Mr. The representative back you're recognized thank you Mr chair up. Sitting here. Do you have any type of numbers that would say you expect fifteen representative of. That's a response time in this are less cost or something like that it just seems like these things come to us with the judges it's gonna be much better could be statewide you know but that's very hard to quantify what we the bang for the Buck right we have not put data measures on I mean they have performance indicators as to what they must complete at this point we haven't put a specific number of how many children we'd like to see decrease on entries but we do keep data and we will expect we will be tracking outcomes not only on a reduction of number of children in foster care but also we look at rates such as reentry into foster care a reoccurrence of maltreatment meaning that we worked with the family but we lower the reoccurrence of maltreatment so there are indicators that we will be expecting to improve based on the recommendations that they make on how we work with families. But we haven't set a goal yet I feel like it's too early to do that. You saying no more questions I have a motion to approve C. three out of state contracts. I have a motion the second. Second favor I posed okay Mister Smith you give us the licensee for in state contracts. The in state contracts begin on page nineteen number one is agro with a new contract for program management system to achieve higher efficiency number two is corrections this is their amendment they have for waste disposal services at calico rock number three is economic development with the center for toxicology that they're using the A. R. P. A. funding for building online portal solution to receive and store applications aiming to deploy broadband to unserved and under served areas of the state number four is the health department this is amended amendment to continue medical record abstraction in support of hospitals participating in the Arkansas stroke registry and stroke management tool number five and six are both DHS amendments adding that no money but these are important because these amendments are adding language and flexibility in dealing with rates due to covid as part of the impact for the nursing shortages of that they're dealing with and finally number seven is DHS with Ridgeway this is an amendment for comprehensive residential treatment services and those are all of the in state contracts on the agenda. Representative Cavenaugh you're recognized thank you Mr I have a question for economic development commission. He's presenting Welcome feel identify yourself and represent Count all you're recognized that's what. Mike Preston department of commerce David L. department commerce thank you Mr chair over to your right mind is on number three and it just struck me funny and the Arkansas probably answer pretty quickly as the center for toxicology is going to be working on broadband how does that. To go together. That's the that's the company that the IDF in a house on retainer to support with the arpa Fund on I think the name is a bit misleading that's maybe with it and it started out at at one point but now they're consulting on the R. profundity will is the host of many other things that fall under the portfolio but they're actually coming in to offer administrative support to that office which is two full time people one part time person dedicated to to that so we need some administrative support that we're using to those are per funds. So. The our guests over the years I have just developed this expertise and toxicology distaste and their name because that's what it was that's in there were actually recently acquired by a monstrosity company out of California who is now relocated their headquarters into Little Rock so the portfolio is extremely big they just haven't changed our name to reflect what they're currently doing okay so you followed Mister chair. This is just going to be a consultant that's going to. Oversee the building of the online portal or they actually creating the online portal it's a subcontractor to our department to assist with administrative support to it so we had a C. two hundred fifty million dollars so farm projects we have another three hundred fifty million in request thank you said it's about two and a half people trying to go through that and then also do the backside due diligence this team is coming in to support administrative support. To help us build the portal for online in taking applications but then also the monitoring that's going to go along with that as we continue to deploy these funds. Okay I'm a little confused because the committee voted to have a consultant that was going to review all these things and make sure that they were compliant so we're going to have another consultant on top of it that after this consultant that were paying two million dollars for that says it's a good project we're gonna have another consultant we're going by two million dollars for this going to help us to administer the thing that we just said was okay. The we we we have a contract with UAMS on the engineering side of that this is on the compliance side on front and as we do our due diligence and work with the internet service providers the counties and cities who are submitting in applying for the grant before they even get to a point with actually doing the technical engineering spot a part of it and then also on the backside compliance issue and with one to have the funds deployed to make sure that they've actually done it they spent the the funds we're doing the audit to make sure it is otherwise would be a team of two and a half people trying to keep up with that those initiatives is brought up here in this committee a few times before why the backlog what so many of it to get to that point is we're literally short staff team and rather than going out and trying to hire staff which we were having trouble doing we want to contract out through the opera funds because this was already a contract with the FNA through this company so we're able to subcontract without from ministration for is there any duplication with the consultant we hired to look at the no ma'am that's that's completely they're not coming in and making recommendations on the statewide broadband plan would that's completely separate from from this organization this is purely on administrative support I'm making sure the Arkadelphia I was talking about the consultant that we're using with the steering committee that's going to look at those things that all proposals submitted to us to make sure that there is there one in the same okay so this is this contract that's going that that's the same company yes this is the subcontract of that organization whose reviewing that those proposals me with the federal guidelines requirements are the opportunities steering committee has approved so there actually I have two contracts with this one that the steering committee and then you're doing another contract with them yes ma'am. But they're not doing the same thing no this is an administrative support to the broadband office on the rule connect program. Okay thank you. Represent make sure recognized. Thank you Mr so I just wanna make sure I fully understand I think you've already answered my my questions two million dollars for a website to seems awfully excessive but it sounds like they're gonna be doing a lot more than just putting up for sale on administrative support yes Sir and You can also briefly mentioned this but have we explored trying to bring some more of these resources and house hiring more to try to expand that office instead of just the the two and a half we have an in just like any other industry where we're hard to find people right now so we've we've run through a couple and just not getting what we needed and then we can't waste anymore time we need to bring in a professional to help us manage it right thank you. The with you're recognized. Just just a minute let me. Try that again. No. Okay. You're ready okay thank you we've had conversation after conversation is more about broad but. We just approved a contract for a million dollars which was the highest contracted three builders. UAMS is been in here this morning. The proposal we approved only other consultant was through the department of tourism or heritage or whatever they call that. I don't know who's in charge of broadband in the state of Arkansas we're spending millions of dollars and we gag on seventy five thousand. Now tell me who is in charge or you use your agency run it is Stacy Hurst run it is UAMS run in the broadband program we're spending millions of dollars. Jason this and I'm for that we can get it fast and the. But who's running the show. The representative The department of commerce is in charge of the rule connect program that's where I'd say the but Jordi funding has gone so far to get broadband deployed the rule ID program which is separate from from that or from our program in our organization is run through you a mess we contract with UAMS on engineering support with the Arkansas rule connect program is run through the broadband office which is housed within the department of commerce. We we did if that's true mmhm rule connect and we talk about boots on the ground okay mmhm so why did we move that contract. To the to the tourism for. Here about the you know there's there's there is there are a lot of state parks and I don't have a problem but there's also three million people in Arkansas so what we transferred that and what do we constantly come back in here to me a consultant is anybody with a briefcase twenty five miles from home. I mean they they come in here they tell us the same thing that we know I chose the wrong profession I should've been consult and I agree but that contracted the Secretary her strain it's actually the contract is with commerce it was part of the steering committee the cares or our posterity committee the governor appointed working groups Secretary Hurst was tasked with leading the broadband working group on what needed to be accomplished in working in conjunction with the legislature it was decided that a a statewide contract be put in place or a consultant hired to do a statewide contract the Secretary hearse myself secretary Walter all collaboratively work together to run through the process of bringing on this consultant or making a recommendation to hire this consultant ultimately that contract for the consultant will reside within the department of commerce through ADC and the broadband office so I know it's convoluted and complex process there but ultimately will be housed within the department of commerce follow the Mr the do you agree that we've got a scatter gun approach to this was not me it's scattered but there's no easy answer it's taking everyone working together to actually move the needle on broadband I I'm proud of what we've done in the last since COVID is hit how far we've come on broadband right now we still have a long ways to go and I I get it's a lot of conversation and contracts coming in but each one it does serve a very specific purpose and ultimately is going to help us where we all want to be and that's getting broadband deployed across the entire state of Arkansas we made significant progress in getting that happen these contracts and steps that we're going through we'll help you get across the finish line that will be able to use these are funds what's there what's left of cares and then any of the of the art off on which of the federal funds are coming down that's what the rule connect programs supporting those communities directly who are applying for those funds so it is a lot of. Moving parts the good news is that we are working together we've had you know as Senator Irvin mention last week at the rule development conference folks who represent all this coming together talking about how this is is done so I I apologize we're taking a probably more time I wasn't really prepared on broadband today we had other things on the the issue but we certainly can and I know we'll be back multiple times talking about broadband as I said we have another three hundred fifty million dollars in requested projects that have come in since the last time that L. sis got together so the need is there we're making sure that we have all the ammunition in place that we can deploy properly. You know and I think everyone in this group agrees that we you know as needed we have to have it but it just seems like or do one more follow up I'll be done please. Do you do at the other agencies the other secretaries no the relative to roll bands to come to use to work through your agency to work through your broadband division relative to issuing contracts and that type of thing And or get your consultation on hello approach broadband in their needs yes Sir they they know that the the real connect program and in the broadband offices and commerce I'd something that when the governor pulls the cabin to gather we talk about frequently it is a priority much like the legislature is the same as the priority of the governor so it's something that we are all committed to and focused on it well there's a lot of interest in it so you do see a lot of moving parts but we continue to to have those good conversations and will run point on it for that thank you Mr secretary thank you Mr chairman thank you committee Irvin you're recognized. Just follow UP I I agree one hundred percent and what Secretary Preston is stating is correct and I just wanted to. To re emphasize that there are lots of moving parts there is a lot of coordination I mean for X. there is a lot of money out there in all these different buckets is very very complicated I know one projects Riz received twenty eight point six million in art off sciences or federal funds I mean there's a lot of combination of things that are happening there's a lot of due diligence that has to be done on the front side and the backside I mean you're talking millions and millions and millions of dollars from state revenues from cares money from arpa funds from federal art off from SEC from USDA from the department of agriculture you're you're talking about a very very complicated system so Steven representative Meeks myself Senator English English senator Hammer senator Caldwell's senator Chesterfield so many of us have worked really hard through this process and so we're happy to sit down with any legislator or that really wants to engage with us on this Senator Davis as well and and so you know we're happy to to help you with your questions and help answer those questions but I just wanted to second I guess what Secretary Preston said and I just appreciate very much all the work that you all have done collectively and together on this it's a big moving projects but it's one that we're up against the wall on and there's a lot of time there's time frames that have to be hit because of the the time frames on these expenditures of these are of funds that's what so critical and and we just can't compete also out there for talents and pay them what they're making in the private sector and so you know we're kind of just up against the wall but I just think you know so many of people in this legislature has worked on this with you guys and you all did a great great job thank you. President Lowery recognized. Thank you Mr chairman. Secretary press in first I want to say you should never apologize for taking up time to discuss something that's as important as this and as voluminous as this is you mentioned several times there's a lot of moving parts and that is really the concern that I and many others have is that we've got all these moving parts and all these you to use to broadband from my understanding any issues related to broadband usually went through the that the insurance and commerce committee and all of a sudden it got pulled away from us because everybody else had their little piece of the puzzle and my main concern is not so much losing my chairman oversight of those issues but that there doesn't seem to be any central point one person or one department that we can point to if there are interruptions just seems like everybody's got their hand out because there's money available. And you know even the question that representative wouldn't wanted answered a while ago I mean all the interested parties are here let's let's hear from DFA about this ten million dollar. expenditure that was made and and it turns out to be a scam so what can you have how can you assure us that there is a uniform a pipeline that there is a person who is going to say the Buck stops with me if there are problems with our broadband implementation in the way that we're spending all of these disk different various forms of revenue. Who's going to step up and say that they're the person that's responsible for making sure that flow works effectively. Representative I appreciate the question again the the rule connector ram the broadband office or within the department of commerce everything that falls within that purview there are couple programs outside of that I was I don't have a say in where this the federal funds are going in and what the the FCC provides directly to communities but in terms of the state's perspective in what we're trying to do to move the needle on the governors of broadband initiative that he rolled out back in twenty nineteen yes that runs the Department commerce that runs for a bribe in office at all to me report to me. Okay just short follow up. I just want to reiterate that my concern is that you know at a very legitimate question was asked by representive Wooten and we're told we'll have to wait thirty days or to the next meeting for that answer and and that just seems to be the question it's almost like trying to nail Jello to the wall of finding out which entity is responsible for implementation of this expansion of broadband so if if in the future you can do anything to help us in alleviating that concern that there is there is oversight that we're not going to have to have a the diagram to figure out who the responsible parties are that it stops starts with one the pipeline if you can help us with that I think it would very much be appreciated yes Sir thank you. Senator Hill you're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman of over here. Secretary is there any way you can get us someone whether it be yourself or someone you appoint they can be a point person to piggyback off of their site one person were all these other divisions come to inspect Hey this is what we're doing on broadband so we have someone where the Buck stops with them whether be you or someone else or for any talk to governor get him to put someone's or someone's got to be in charge of all you've got a head coach on their team. And so this is a broadband is a team we need a head coach well I appreciate that in in I agree completely and the Buck stops of me in the part of commerce I have you know that our broadband manager who runs our broadband office who is going to be more technical expertise I'll say that again though to say that there are outside influences who have programs that do not fall within our our purview in our jurisdiction but we can help people navigate and understand that if you know if you need a point person someone to go to absolutely our office is open for you. Yes. So you're telling me that you a M. S. in the other groups are going to come and run it through you so you can share that with us if the the program is is one that they're reviewing for us yes no word on that issue I mean interrupted that that we're getting off work I'm on one person this going to be the person who the Buck stops with on broadband. What can we do to get that from all these different areas where we can have one person who can navigate and tell us what's going on so there's not any duplication sharing information that's the key thing we're looking for is someone to let us know be transparent with each different division. Senator absolutely come to us and we'll be as transparent share everything that we possibly have no with you and any other member the legislature but what about the information from a different division I will do our best to get that if we don't have it at our fingertips okay so the next time we have a an A. L. C. meeting you're going to answer all the relevant question what you're saying because that's what I'm asking for well it in again some of the technical expertise will residing still with UAMS uses contracted not through us but through you know the real ID program they'll be able to answer that but we can talk about how that is working in conjunction with our existing programs and what we're pushing thank you Sir thank you senator just feel you're recognized Mr chairman immediate consideration. A motion for committee consideration of second. All in favor aye aye opposed. Okay we thank you again for being here I have a motion for C. for in state contracts all in favor aye aye opposed. The motion is to review. Does pass. Thank you senator. Yes. You're recognized centers for yes thank you Mr chair before we go forward of a number of our I'd like a point of personal privilege. Receive this this body approved raises for those in categories a through me one through five. Four raises because we know that we have a severe shortage of employees. And when we. And when we under pay our employees they leave us. And in today's society that is happening more and more. So I want you to be aware of the fact that I visited with the chairs about it. I'd like for us to put on our agenda a discussion if at all possible for the next meeting about how we are implementing. The proposed raises for staff I received information from Tony who's here now but we need to take a look at how we are treating our staffers we know they're underpaid overworked and underappreciated but we need to see what is going on and we thought we made a step in the right direction now I'm not so sure thank you Mr. Goucher Wardlaw you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair of center city or not to share your concern because when I was brought to us it was brought to us it was a D. F. and a. Addition of that was spread out to all state departments to have the right to do it and one of the biggest reasons was DHS have such trouble in human development centers in different places finding employees and then we find out they're the ones that are not doing it so what I what I'll do is I'll ask the chairman can we send this to you personnel subcommittee next month and get a full report back to council in November on why how this is not working out the way it was put out in June that it was going to work out. Thank you searches for you. Okay members we are and item three personnel. classification compensation Mr Tony Robinson if you will president place thank you Mr chairman I don't F. three is a request from Black River technical college's FOR one controller position will be responsible for preparation of financial reports compliance reconciliation of ledger accounts of the Department higher it is recommended the requested position item F. three B. is a request for the department of corrections division of correction for the opium from the opium swappable departments Rick requesting to surrender six positions and and return for three deputy warden positions at a grade GS ten I this is to try to entice them as a work release center supervisors opiate of the Opium is recommended the requested swap item F. three season his or questions Department transformation shared services from the OPM's waffles well to surrender three building program supervisors in return for three maintenance managers hi this is to fix the organizational structure of the cost is estimated to be about eighteen thousand dollars him as recommended this request as well I am F. three D. is a request from the Arkansas department health for an A. R. P. appropriation that two positions were heard during the peer presentation Person allegedly here's the classifications tied to these positions which was a laboratory manager missing a microbiologist opium and recommended the classifications for those two positions. I am F. three E. has requests from department Human Services also for an A. R. P. requested was her during her presentation for three positions with DHS program administrator DHS program manager titles opium is recommended those requesting classifications as well item F. three F. is a labor market special intricacy for the DFA division of racing they they're requesting an increase to sixteen dollars per hour for five classifications with the projected cost of five thousand seven hundred dollars this is due to Oaklawn making the statement that they're going to be raising their minimum wage to sixteen dollars an hour opium is recommended the requested rates. I am F. three G. is another labor markets for sure entry rate from the FAA Division of racing this is for the dog racing and racing commission veterinarians the request for the integrate is set at the maximum salary of the grade which is a hundred twenty thousand. The cost will be approximately twelve thousand dollars SQ two thousand eight hundred dollars it will be available to both existing and new employees an opium is recommended the rate. I don't F. three H. is a special entry request for an exception will qualified applicant at the Division of racing the applicant is for racing commission steward position and there be responsible for enforcement of all racing commission rules supervision of jockeys owners and trainers opium is recommended the requested special interest rate based on the applicant's experience. I don't F. three I was actually pulled by OPM and agencies will skip over that I am F. three J. is request the Department of Human Services for thirty positions from the opium growth for the the request will cost approximately one point seven million dollars and they're requesting twenty new family service workers specialists AT family service worker supervisors one family service worker county supervisor and one DHS county administrator three these positions are request in order to help with the increased our children in foster care as well seized Mr over issues that the agency has been having they see this as the first phase of the changes that they're making over the next three years opium is recommended these positions I am F. three K. is requesting department inspector general the department is requesting two positions from the opium growth pull as well as one new classification for one of these positions requests for one or a quarter one internal audit deputy director of these positions are tied the guy House study of the Arkansas department transportation to be responsible helping with the annual project review an efficiency study at or not opium is recommended the requested positions and the new classification Mr chairman that's my report thank you for your presentation refer option I have a question from a representative Cavenaugh you're recognized thank you Mr chair a I have a question for day of the night Division of racing. Therefore I to make sure. Actually I'm G. is GM's or look thank you. Glasses is different. Welcome gentleman if you will recognize yourself and. Representative Cavenaugh you're recognized was looking camel racing commission. Our frail Gracie Commission. Thank you Mr chairman over here to your right over here. Okay my question is we're going to be looking at a dog racing veterinarian dog racing is going away and the end of twenty twenty two so what are we gonna do with that position after dog racing goes away. If we keep growing in Oaklawn maybe would be transferred there I don't know we have got one Mr you will speak into your mind yes Sir here loaded or thank you I said we've got one position in Oaklawn for our state vet we've got the one in Southland when that one goes down maybe will want to keep that job opening in this habit Lynn limbo if we needed it climbed because hopes are they will continue to grow like it has a girl. Follow Mister chair. It is they're not different qualifications for a dog racing veterinarian then the equine racing veterinarian I think they're both on the same. Guidelines is state I mean they've got the same job description the same code so we've got to look at him as a equal. But. Yeah when you're dealing with horseracing which I'm a little familiar with you need somebody that specializes in equine so to make sure that the safety of the equine athlete is paramount the same thing with dog racing you want a veterinarian that is familiar with the you know the K. nine to make sure that their health is paramount and they're two different things and normally you don't have a bad it understands both that's why I'm asking. Of it that I understand both. Well we don't either we just got the release of Roberson is it what is south on and the General okay is Oakland. And they don't communicate much together but they do their own separate jobs. That that is my question is when dog racing goes away and twenty twenty two and we don't have a need for a dog that to Merion where water we going to do with that position as a dog veterinarian. I think we could just hold the position not isn't all grandparent but as of that in there in this have it there if we needed it again so they have to go through the process to get another another slot at Oakland if we needed and we might not ever need. I guess that's my my question is really this is one twenty twenty two goes away and there's no need for Dog veterinarian you're going to continue to employ a dog that to the area okay that's what my question is just have that slot out there in case we needed to transfer it over. Okay that's my question thank you yes ma'am sorry. Meeks is your for this result anyone else have a question for the gym. Thank you for being here. Thank you Mr chair I'm asking a question from page twenty two and it's on the the veterinarians as well okay. So go ahead Mister chair said yes go ahead okay from the salary to a data of for Minnesota racing commission's and the New York racing commission Are those the highs and lows that you're using to determine what the range is going to be for us because. Is one seventy eight the lowest and two hundred and nine thousand the highest in the country and other tracks they're higher than what they get make more money than than ours yeah but it but are they the lower are they how did you come how did you choose those two is kind of what I'm not corrected that through an apple why letter I think you wrote to the commission's yesterday for any had friendships there anyone know what they were paying and that's what they were the date did it somebody contact just those two states though yes I think I for those two yes ma'am how many others I don't think so because I think you just pick the good tracks because we're in a class at Oakland like they are top notch and and we want to serve the current makes a good track and the Division your back close to you that I've got some members having trouble here you can call right so there you go. I want what I'm trying to find did we look at just those two you say that the FY those that's fine not that's not my issue did we look at say fifteen states I do we just look at two states no matter what I would say those two states just those two states I think so I think that's what Dr okay and how did we serve along just those two states the rising that they do and the quality of the track and the quality of the horses so there is some there is some kind of grid somewhere where you determine the quality that you wanted to wanted to measure against for hiring these veterinarians or is it just. You look at it and say this one's good that one's good. What you look at the purchase and have big the races are how many horses they have Wallace E. of championships with a win and that was part of the of the what he used to decide the use of three tracks is that something you have in writing somewhere that we have what is that something you have in writing I can find out from doctor okay I know even that talk to them and I will say I'm I have something in my office I look if I do I'll give it to you I'll be glad to. One last question Mister chair. Do you have any idea. Of. The lowest those states who pay the lowest amounts to better in Marion's do you have any idea what that is no I am I do not. Okay. Well. I think it would be wise if we Mister chair if if we would get some information about this I am not known for being up tight about paying people well for what they do because I do believe in that. But I'm not understanding how we got to this range other than we just looked at who the good ones are and I don't have anything to show me who the good ones are or. You don't have information with you to show us to the good ones are. Well I apologize for that I'll try to get you some information well if if we can just wait as we can to come we just wait until we you can provide us with the who the good ones are and what the criteria are for determining that that would be helpful to me. This could be difficult to wait because a racy season start in December of this year I think one thing here to look at is the number of raceday use it each of these tracks and O. clock we compare Okla with the top tier tracks and and the the vet said oh clock competes for would not go to these lower lower grade tracks to work competing with the top grades with New York California Kentucky and those tracks so in order to be competitive with the tracks they compete with for horses and for person is they are asking to raise the rate. What we paying right now. Of thank you in order to dock to the to the events yes hang on one second the doctor Li ke is making sixty dollars and forty nine cents an hour. doctor Robinson is making fifty five dollars and seventy one cents an hour. What's that accrue to yearly roughly do we know I need you have to do the hours and look up and I don't have it because I don't know how many hours they work well I just if you took I think they base all this on a full year and then they pay per hour for ever how many hours they work any maybe a thousand hours I think the law says up to fifteen hundred or over fifteen hundred you need to. So I don't have those hours in front of me Mr when's our next meeting. This man okay. Okay we've got some other information for our next meeting is is November. That we get some other information that might help you. Yes yes okay you have to make information or identify yourself please. Thank you Mr element value with a finance administration and Senator Elliot I appreciate that the questions you have and what it will look at and get your information for salary information with respect to other veterinarians across the racing secretary in other states as well Arkansas continues to meet we're less competitive with them out there that we're offering I think you will demonstrate that to you but one of the challenges that we have is we're taking these individuals it's not a significant increase or taking them to the Max that we can within the grade that they currently are self will continue to look at that this gets us into the racing season allows us to move forward for the December racing season and then we'll do a labor market study up with other states to determine where our veterinarians are in a pay range across the racing sectors but so what do you what are you saying you want to you want us to approve this are you going to move ahead with what we're what we're doing right now we would very much appreciate that the will and the support of the committee to approve the one twenty eight salary that gives allows us to take them to the to the top of the page grade that they're currently in and then we'll continue to look at this and we may have to to make to remain competitive we may have to come back up but it will request an a grade change and that will involve that will get them to one to twenty. We we can take them to one twenty eight okay right that that and that's what you're asking to do that's what you will do what we vote this today. and when you bring information back to us you will bring information that we can use to evaluate whether or not we want to go further than that and be more competitive because I am not at all surprised that we are not competitive yes ma'am because that's what we do well. but I don't think we can make this kind of change without our knowing something about more concrete okay but if you're telling me you just want to go to the top of the grade that we have right now that's correct I can live with that thank you but I. And when you bring up the information please make it. You know a lot of times we want to go low we are very careful to go just with our surrounding states. I don't think that's always a good thing but just make sure is information that we can see across the country what we're doing because I'm not against paying people for their expertise. Thank you Mr I can come back if you'll get back in the queue of with a formal are I'm I'm finished Mr thank you have a hand side the backs got questions for these I'll go back Senator she's got a. Question a representative makes you're recognized thank you John just quick question what is the source of these bonds. Who's who's paying the salaries is that the taxpayers in general revenues at Oaklawn who's paying for the it's there are there is some general revenue. Account and allow for the racing commission there's also special revenue that is used so it's it's a mix and the increase is that we're requesting our within existing resources in the state and the racing commission thank you. The board ones I have areas for this. Senator Hammer you're recognized thank you what I understand is you want to be able to go up to the hundred twenty eight six ninety is that correct and is that for each one of those positions both the dog racing and the other one yes Sir okay and that's calculated at a rate of sixty dollars an hour I think is what was quoted a minute ago or state is amended to go is that correct yes Sir. Okay and. What happens if it goes over sixty dollars an hour or is it just going to be the flat salary and the sixty dollars an hour which is what was used to get to this point it's estimated that's correct an instance it is the salary and that's just our. Okay and so if the if the bills out of sixty dollars an hour and gets up to it then. What it whatever it turned he's here she is obligated to do the job regardless is that correct yes Sir and do you have a pool of people from Arkansas that Marion's that would be on the top of the list to be hired for this are you having to bring him in from out of state and that's part of what's making because I would imagine this is kind of a specialized field so is that is that part of the challenger having people outside of the state it's a it is that that is a big part of the the issue and we do pull out of state veterinarians for additional support at Oaklawn specifically during racing season but for these two individuals I'm not sure I am. If we if one of these veterinarians left it's a very specialized field so we would have to do a search so these are gonna be year round employees and even outside the racing times that correct the two veterinarians the one of south land and wanted Oakland we have two full time art thank you thank. Richey Richmond you're recognized. Represent a written. Yeah thank you Mr chair over here very just just a quick question why is the taxpayer on the hook to pay for these veterinarians what do they provide any of the services to the state or anything like that would seem to me that the private enterprise would be a better choice. Representive we the just the state of Arkansas the racing commission has a regulatory authority over of all live racing so the state has an obligation to make to make sure that the regulatory rules are are followed and so that's our role Oaklawn others maintain their own trainers maintain their own veterinarians but we have we're trying to fulfill the regulatory authority and the responsibility of the state okay so this is for regulatory this isn't just necessary out there treating horses and no center okay thank you very much. Representative Cavenaugh recommend thank you Mister chair I just want to clarify the amount that you are asking to increase is twelve thousand eight hundred five dollars were not as an increase a hundred thousand you're just asking the increase of twelve thousand eight hundred five dollars that's correct thank you. Senior questions Senator a it did you have anything else. The. I have a motion sensor just for a on the second hole in favor say aye. Posed. This proof. Thank you Mr Robson for your. Report. Of age reports just one second. Okay if you look through those members you've got any questions teacher retirement system. The others are marking reports you got questions. Signify by punching your vote. Engine in motion our. three. Not saying any questions we will take that the and. The B. R. U. four items H. one through eight. They want to require the motion is H. three a and B.. I have a motion approved the second all in favor aye opposed. I know some of these members are required for one summer just mucking Review for questions. Okay members are last thing is that under Act four thirteen we've got to reports from the Department secretaries. We need to. Mr Preston if you. Step up. You're recognized give report for department of commerce. It just feels Turner maiko Mr president Senator secretary pressure you're recognized give department commerce thank you Mr chairman and I appreciate the invitation Mike Preston secretary commerce executive director of the act Arkansas Economic Development Commission I had a whole forty five minute presentation on broadband I think we can skip that for the sake of our conversations I am not a cell be I do have a presentation of the report in front of you I know it's been a long morning so I just had a couple of quick points and and just open up for questions as many of you know through transformation department of commerce now consist of ten entities the Arkansas development finance authority the Arkansas Economic Development Commission department workforce services officer skills development insurance department bank department securities apartment waterways Commission aeronautics and the wine producers council And I have representation from all these entities here today after specific questions related to their activities and what we're doing as we look back at what was been going through since transformation really the highlight is is through COVID in our sponsor to that a quick reminder in summary what we went through and supported on covid hundred thirty eight million dollars in grants and forgivable loans to twelve thousand Arkansas businesses ten million in grants to twenty seven rural hospitals seven point eight million dollars and forgivable loans to providers of services to the devil developmental disability disabled ten million rental assistance to over thirteen thousand our Kansans who are struggling to pay rent twelve million dollars in grants help local communities in their Copa nineteen response and four point seven million dollars in grants to address food insecurity additionally we had over three billion dollars flow the department of workforce services for unemployment benefits to over two hundred fifty thousand our Kansans who face temporary loss of employment during the employment during the pandemic Senate is they were very busy during that time to the pandemic we are in front of this committee lot to talk about some of these programs and what we went through but to fast forward to where we are today and it's kind of somewhat back to normal it's exciting to see we had a lot of economic activity picking up across the state I'm just a quick economic summary and recap we're now down to four point a four point zero unemployment rate and actually if you look with the numbers within the numbers on that we're seeing or labor pool growing which is a significant milestone forces the state to see that number a continuing to take up despite the job losses we saw throughout the pandemic we are sixty six thousand three hundred more Arkansans employed today than it was January of twenty fifteen when the administration took office during that time we signed five hundred forty six projects competitive projects or one resulting in over twenty five thousand jobs paying an average wage of over twenty dollars an hour and that represents ten point nine eight billion dollars in capital investment. Since you for twenty twenty we see in our GDP grow at six point nine percent to the top thirteen states in the country in that same time frame we seen growth in over seventeen sectors within our state I know I will say we have a lot of work to do we still have seventy thousand job openings in our state you've seen a collaborative effort within the department of commerce to workforce services offices skills development and economic development to make sure that we're getting people back to work we've got some really significant economic development wins here in the last several months including a great announcmenet this Tuesday in the port of Little Rock the company tracks manufacturing was going to open a facility at the port of Little Rock creating some five hundred plus jobs of four hundred million dollar investment that's gonna represent about thirty eight million dollars in annual payroll coming into the state as it was have resulted that project so if anyone is in the industry to build a new deck or have an Adirondack chair recommend this company highly there now in Arkansas company will start construction here very soon so Mister chairman I know that was brief and a lot of information but I know the committee's time is short and I'm happy to answer any questions related to the department of commerce. Senator Hammer you're recognized thank you Mr couple quick ones were we ever in the hunt for the Toyota plant I think that's going to end up going to Tennessee. You mean Ford or Ford no Sir we warrant that was a. Required about a four thousand plus acre shovel ready site and we just don't have anything to that scale okay and then the seventy thousand jobs are still open or the service sector type jobs or less that the cross the board across the board yes Sir okay and then can you do you know where we are on the unemployment backlog the cases that are in review still waiting for the last number that I had at the first of the year we're about twenty six thousand in a backlog as of the last number that I have we're down to about eleven thousand a backlog and of those about a thousand of those have been there less than ninety days so the the significant backlog is coming clean more so than we've seen in in quite some time. And you know what percentage of those are being upheld or are being dismissed do you have that I don't know that number but I could have DWS look into that and see if that's available for you okay thank you thank Mister representative Cavenaugh are skewing center Chesterfield and representative Cavenaugh got your back thank you message your address again represent them out at risk of being beaten with the noodle I have a quick question what percentage of the rental assistance money has gone out. I think from from our office that we had the ten million we're we expended all that I'll have to verify but I think everything that we were under our purview has gone so you've taken care of all of you as I guess I should have asked DHS where they were but I'm sure they run away from here by now thank you so much. Representative Cavenaugh you're recognized thank you Mr chair my question is done because I had a constituent of reach out to me because they had been paid some unemployment and then I guess I got audited and found out that they didn't qualify for the funds that they received and they were asking the state to ask them to pay it back do we know how many dollars that we have found after it's been audited that we gave out incorrectly I don't have that number I'm sure we could we get that I know we're as we are going through the audits we are seeing that happen there's a few instances that I've seen over the last couple weeks where that's been the case where someone qualified for you shouldn't have in those those communications have gone out so I can run those numbers arrested of US to look into that we can follow up with you yes if you don't mind Mr they just send that to the committee yes ma'am thank you if you will send that the committee staff to get out the members. couple despair on the border Senator Hammer did you have another. Thanks you just quit Hey do you do you know how many are on unemployment today. Yes seventy thousand openings how many how many are on unemployment today. I should have that number see if I got in I usually get an email update this morning on. I don't have it for for this morning but it's Last week it was roughly about you know two thousand or somewhere around there of new a new claims coming in which is about the lowest that we've seen on since the before the pandemic but total number I have to get that back to you roughly probably about fifteen thousand issue. Okay. We got seventy thousand job openings we have fifteen thousand on unemployment. Are we in a labor shortage then as far as being fill fill those jobs and is it a tribute to people just not want to go back to work or we're just in that such sweet spot where we got it for the business the more years it's a combination of all that some people decided to leave the workforce entirely done because of the pandemic it in others we are seeing some growth in our labor pool as I mentioned the beginning which is nice to see we didn't see that for you know over a year but I think the last three months now consistency we've seen those numbers increase in our labor pool but the demand is so high right now people of low you know left industry certainly Hospitality's one that suffered more than others of people just leaving that industry all together and going to the other one so it's a combination across the board and we're not the only state and this is you know all the other forty nine states are feeling the same thing right now and are you when somebody applies less questions which only applies for unemployment are you able to identify if the reason the applied for unemployment was because they refuse to get the vaccine shot. Is that is that part information you collect that we do we do require information on I don't know if that specifically of a box that they the checker that's something you into into the process but all I'll check to see if that's something that we would check and let me know if it's not a box I'd like you to add it as a box so we can identify how many people are in and that's probably a requirement from the federal government on what is it might be something we might not be able to but will run that down for you are thank you thank you mayor secretary Preston pursued to get that information and also on the last bill that you talk about getting the Senator Hammer if you will get that committee thank you for that thanks for being here today next a members we have a. Partner veteran affairs colonel Nate Todd Secretary dot if you'll come up. Thank you for being here today and I will let you recognize yourself and. The. Give us your department's report. A few others with you will also recognize himself to. Good morning make Todd secretary Arkansas Department virgin fairs Margaret on to be with you today our chief of staff Ingram within distance of. Retired Air K. Ingram chief of staff this was a. William was a consistant Director for state veterans cemeteries. The bedrooms of Arkansas are thankful for the legislators the governor and the citizens for support that you've given our veterans for their service to this nation and the state on the transformation there had been four departments we at at trial and welfare. I would share with you in the department of veterans services we think transformation innovation and collaboration. The legislatures of helped us with this innovation in that we now have incentivize our county victim services offices to become competent in their area of expertise and have access to the veterans benefits management system which is electronic system that allows those County virgin service offices to see the file of the bedroom this is innovation this is supported by the legislators and Administration. In addition. We started with nine. District offices to re engineering we now man six. District's service offices however the company seat of our county veteran service office of increase. Several years ago we had twenty three accredited county veterans services offices of this month we now have sixty three of the seventy five counties. Thank you senator. Innovation collaboration on the transformation now we have to think innovation and collaboration how can we collaborate with all the agencies other secretaries to get the job done for that and to give you several examples. In the area of collaboration with the department of agriculture we have a series of that to a new cities across the state Arkansas state university Arkansas tech. University of Arkansas Monticello what we facilitate it was veterans coming together with the department a to create a correlation of of of veterans that are engaged in farming and ranching this is cancer skill sets to coverage amongst each other and their communication and access would perform the role and with the United States department of agriculture. We also collaborated on the federal level we collaborated with what is known as the veterans benefits administration the veterans healthcare administration and the veterans cemetery administration. Mr what sex is an expert real regarded at the federal level in the last three years we have received more than twelve million dollars in grants for the expansion of the North Little Rock cemetery we have a grant proposal now for an expansion of the brick I Cemetery. In the area of the victims healthcare administration a lot of opportunities we are supported by five VA medical centers in the state of Arkansas central Arkansas forty five counties the old sharks in Fayetteville about seven counties the in the office V. A. supports about eleven counties in East Arkansas Shreveport five counties is Southwest Arkansas in poplar bluff about five counties in north East Arkansas we collaborate we brought those veterans health care system together and we've been rolled veterans into VA healthcare system what that does is give them access to the current VA benefits and we hold it will reduce our meta care requirements for those veterans that may have been uninsured. We talked about the car expansion of cemeteries we talked about the healthcare administration the veterans benefits administration we work closely with them to our veterans what is called blue water veterans these are navy. Vietnam veterans or off the coast of Vietnam that opens to recently have been denied here Associated sumi compensation associated with Agent Orange. We do our district offices in our county offices weeks and working with the fertile Viv Richards benefit mistress we solve problems that you're insured that they they're clean was refueled and for bowls in the family members that that veteran may have been to cease but they did file a claim. I will share with you that we look forward to the future. We look forward in collaborating with the federal VA to bring resources to Arkansas today all of the rooms in reference to the fifty states in six territories received will before from leading compensation across the nation per capita we're proud of that that just didn't happen to happen because this legislators this legislation invested in district offices and now and county versus Services loss again is our group on the server visuals of Arkansas with thank you will the legislators in this administration for their support of veterans and their service thank you thank secretary Todd the couple on the. Here Senate berry. You're recognized chairman and thank you secretary Todd over here yes Sir thank you secretary Todd for what you do for the veterans of this state and congratulations on your your new hires a chief of staff of colonel Ingram is just incredible lady and I appreciate all she does so my question is in reference to we have better ends that are being buried across the state of Arkansas on numerous occasions that do not receive military funeral honors. And I know from the image that general a lot of that is attributed to federal dollars and recently representative Wardlaw I had a challenge at the last minute to lay a better dressed in his district that was not able to get military funeral honors because of the drastic cuts from the Biden administration to the department of defense for specifically of military funeral honors. Is there anything that the state at the or the legislature can do to help mitigate some of those challenges that were happened for a putting a number of our veterans to lay them to rest your brothers or you are aware of that that has to start the been a D. O. D. department of defense mission. you know as well as anyone the. The stress that is on our military forces to include the National Guard. So I will share with you that the citizen legislators legislatures of Arkansas there is a license plate fee. For veterans service organizations that will support military honors Sir it is not an active duty our national guardsmen these are veterans that aren't members of our American Legion and VFW is that are trained by the National Guard however these are senior citizens and they have been affected by the pandemic and so they have not been going out however there is processes and procedures in place to reimburse them it's only fifty dollars they may send five to seven of their members out that military honors. Sure it is is the area of the. I will suggest that the. If the National Guard could receive additional resources are of TV's read full time codes that would be one area to to help support that in this endemic but again Sir that is a deal D. department of defense as you will know miss. Thank you Sir. culture Wardlaw you're recognized thank you Mr eight. I was sent home that night and got a Facebook message that this Korean War veteran had passed away and no one was available to go to the funeral and I call general berry and you he's a heck of a resource for the House representative to have right now because he he jumped right on it and we were able to get it covered. But whatever it is we need to do these people are or who pave the street for me to be able to live the life I live today I understand that the rest of the world needs to understand that so if there is a budget requested National Guard we need to see that from the National Guard and and we need to try to fulfill that because those people deserve to be laid to rest with honor and dignity with their soldiers decide on and whatever we have to do to get make sure that that takes place we need to do it and the last thing we need to be doing is telling those families at that point they need to reschedule as funerals because that's what was being told to this family and they're already in a time of grief they're already in a time of hurt the last thing they want to here's reschedule our family our funeral so they can have their flag presented to so whatever we need to do on our side we need to know what that is and I'll be there to fight tooth and nail for whatever money that is to make sure these people get laid to rest in the way that they deserve. Thank you president will log in as a soldier so there are no better than to. What a mission to another entity so I'm not speaking for the Arkansas National Guard so I I apologize however you know Pete to identify solutions and that would be a solution but that would be on the Journal paeans provocative to seek that Mrs. Thank you senator you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair actually when I pushed my button it was actually of the same topic at represent of Woodlawn representative I'm very just brought up in that and what you referenced was some of our VFW and American legions here senior citizen veterans who are stepping into that role because of the lack of the available availability of that and I know that in the past we have been able to support them with the vans add that they've been able to purchase an order to all load up and go to do this for their fellow soldiers and so and and at one time I think we were able to give like a G. I. F. grant to a certain VFW for that purpose and so you know clearly that's not an option now but that's exactly what I was about to ask is how can we support some of these senior citizen veterans actually that are you know retires that are doing this and stepping into that role they feel very strongly about it they're very passionate about it I know they're not all over the state but I feel like that might be a solution and how then can we as a legislature support those efforts that those and men and women are are doing on behalf of their fellow soldiers and they're doing it for for you know at no cost to themselves but just would like reimbursement for the gas and you know and and there are some that have bands and some that don't so I'd like that was one thing I wanted to bring up to you and then the second thing is the connection between the veterans and and organizations like team Rubicon and which is the veterans organization that goes then on natural disasters but also have been helping in the pandemic with bikes the nation's and clinics and things like that and so I would just bring that to you. You at as to the department of Veterans Affairs that we if we could have some sort of a connection I think with some of those organizations that are disaster relief and help plug in veterans or people so that might be another idea just to help veterans to have very good skills. Apply those skills in a time of need for our neighbors in this country and and other countries as well so and it was an organization my brother became involved with and has volunteered on missions with team Rubicon and so I just thought maybe that would be something that would be really cool to integrate into the department of Veterans Affairs thank you senator Bernard we will. Campus our records service organizations for their needs the Legislative first day at all the key to some resources on the cures act and many of those that the server positions were able to seek and receive those dollars a lot of it is one time requirements however we will Kansas I've been to service organizations of some of their needs. Thank you senator. Thank you representative ray you're recognized for. Thank you Mr chairman thank secretary Todd for being here our record of I'm I'm new here so I like a lot of the institutional knowledge that a lot of others here have but I was just looking at the staffing levels on the on your agency and it looks like from the beginning of the administration to now the agency's grown by about forty percent is there over the last six or seven years have there been Different either been changes in the responsibilities the agency and things like that that assess stated that growth or is that just sort of picked up over time represent rate in twenty seventeen we stood up to North Little Rock veterans home. That's a requirements a man requirement of about a hundred and forty eight a yes thank you thank you Sir about a hundred forty eight of TV's read Dow is staffed about. Ninety F. T. E.'s the the the remainder of that staffing is at ninety four percent you mean ninety five percent occupancy will miss the rest up to the pandemic and the skill sets and healthcare we need is contracted out health of a we received federal reimbursement and the North Little Rock. Veteran home self sustaining at this time. So those F. T. E.'s were due to standing up the North Little Rock veterans hold caption thank you very much Mister Senator Hammer you're recognized. Thank you Mr just on the military honors just wanna make sure I'm clear on one thing if a veteran is retired twenty years or whatever the requirements the branch they actually get their military honors provided a lot of I think it's out of Oklahoma they they still are entitled to get the military honors if there for retired military is that correct that is correct for is the availability of the. Oklahoma reports seals and then availability of national guardsmen who have taken on some of that mission. Okay we're is. But the procedure and we help notify fuel homes of that process and share with them we we do our annual training when I feel homes that as soon as that is the deceased person is identified as a veteran make that request and that request and we give them the processes in the port of contacts of how to make that request so just for the benefit of the committee members of maybe interest in doing this could you go back and retroactively look at last year how many military honors were requested and put together proposed budget for what it would you know take to of cover that cost and get it to the chairs are then push out to the committee is that can be under your jurisdictions that are that is a federal mission that would not be under the of the federal V. eight R. as the Arkansas department which is Affairs that is the department of defense mission this collaborated with the National Guard is I understand okay. the VA home over North Little Rock that's under your own role. Yes Sir what about your staffing and occupancy over there are or what what's the occupancy of the of the home over there and what is the staffing level right now ninety six bids ninety four those B. as occupied today the staffing levels due to the strain on health care skillsets ill PNC entities we held of approximately ninety when I saw the data good to state every Thursday we have an ninety staff members is required at that hospital level about a hundred and forty eight augment that with contract labor that is quite expensive at this time however we have several reimbursements that are covering the calls at this time and we have received so I'm curious dollars. All right so fully staff using contract labor but it's that contract labor then or they overrun cost you're being reimbursed by the federal government for it so we're not when we get into the fiscal session are you gonna be a shortfall or you get a hundred percent reimbursement for that Sir currently the reimbursement covers operational costs we have had some gears dollars the support of that mission okay all right thank you thank you representative very you have less questions. Thank you Mr chairman and to follow up on Senator hammers question and in the the Secretary of military can provide those figures is colonel Ingram those that of what military funeral honors and and how may they do about three thousand burials a year I think was the last number that I recall but I think it's important to know that these cuts at or result of the Biden administrations cuts to the department of defense to the tune affecting Arkansas about a half a million dollars annually because is is very eight it takes a lot of money to provide the a military funeral honors all around the state special an active duty can't pick that up and it's just tragic if we can provide of funeral honors for our veterans at any time regardless if they serve for two years in the marines are up forty five years in the Air Force so I would encourage my colleagues to make it known to our congressional leaders that this is a. Issue in the state of Arkansas and we don't want any veterans to have to be buried without military funeral honors in that program needs be fully funded thank you Mr. Thank you general thank you guys for coming today And colonel Todd thank you for all you do and will Preciado will thank you Secretary of bass and. You're recognized. If you would introduce yourself for the record or sectarian you're recognized start. Its chairman Darrell bass that department of labor and licensing Per share the opportunity to be here invitation to be here and members of the committee since it appears that I'm the only thing that stands between you and launch and due to the fact that I'm in desperate need of staying in good graces with each of you I will be brief. We're department you we had sent out of a Power point most of you should probably have that within your in your packets now but we're Department composed of nineteen different divisions I each of these divisions have their own mission they have their own board of directors and as I say you have that listing in your packet introducing you to each of the directors of these various divisions nineteen different divisions to date we've been able to relocate seventeen of those different divisions that were located around the around the around town to our central location at nine hundred west capital obviously this is allowed us to have a better line of sight Management and the better span of control with regard to especially those integral parts of those areas divisions I II legal financial I T. H. R. it's also allowed us to have a chain of command structure that would be that particularly benefits those divisions that we inherited that were either a that either have one employee or were struggling financially. The financial struggling part is is is is is just something I want to just make mention to because in that vein one of the tools that we have found absolutely critical as we walk this transformational line is the concurrent employment model of for those entities that are struggling financially and or have a single employee and we have several of those one such such example and I want to bring your attention to briefly is auctioneers in geology both of these divisions now are enjoying salary savings as a result of a fifty fifty agreement between those boards of directors to share an employee and of course now we're seeing salary savings on that moving on though one of our initial challenges as we inherited these nineteen different divisions was to find ways to reduce unnecessary redundancies we knew they would happen we knew they were going to be there because we had we had nineteen different groups all coming in with some of the same jobs and so that has been our initial challenge long term though as we've reduced those redundancies I think the consolidation of the contracts that we had the multiple contracts that we had out there for the same service the ability to now look at what we each of the divisions are doing and perform the necessary desk audits that go along with trying to prevent the duplication of effort as well as performing the kind of in depth financial analysis that has to take place when you have nineteen different entities all going in separate directions at the same time that kind of in depth financial analysis has been absolutely critical as we try to go forward and and harm marginalized if that is the word the missions of these disparity entities are. I'm I'm going to be as a state going to be brief but I would be remiss if I didn't mention some of those programs that I've discussed with some of you members in this body that I said I was going to try to do so I just want to highlight just a couple of projects that we've we've taken your advice on one is of course are and in many of you will be familiar with this is our enterprise licensing platform that's a platform that we're really excited about we worked it out with the information network of Arkansas and what that does is it's a digital licensing and permitting platform that's going to allow each of these divisions to do this thing online and that is a that is a characteristic or rather a quality that was that was really really missing from these divisions we're doing things on paper and quite frankly doing things on legal pads and so our goal for completion of that is late spring of twenty twenty two and I think not only are we going to see an administrative benefit in less paperwork less checks coming across the front front desk in our office but the public is going to see a clear benefit they're going to be able to do things online rather than physically come into our offices and so we're very excited about that as well as data security that that we're going to get as a result of that as a state we want to be Department wide on that initiative by late spring of twenty twenty two the next project that came from one of you was a suggestion that we had to do a mobile platform mobile payment platform I think your idea was more or less that we put him in various offices how we've used that though is our various individuals that go out into the field can now instead. Of taking cash they can actually take that card while they're in the field then that moneys immediately coming back in the treasury and of course that's a program that we have up and running right now we're relatively small entity we're a hundred fifty five million dollars in total revenue only three point seven million in general revenue but we are we are we have found a way out of no way and we are we're a very very pleased and very proud of the work that we're doing applause and take any questions that you might have. Senator Hammer I know you have a really easy questions pretty much the you're you're the one that was lucky to get all these boards underneath your umbrella so what's been your biggest challenge of inheriting all the boards and divisions that now fall underneath your responsibility kind a kind of alluded to it you know of the initial the biggest challenge we had was was getting everyone to buy into the fact that diversity of mission is not necessarily a bad thing that it can be a good thing that we can learn from each other never the less we have the human challenge though of when how do you convince directors of independent agencies who have no vested financial interest to go above and beyond and help those entities that are less fortunate that has been a big challenge one that I think overall we've turned that obstacle into an opportunity but we still fight that we still deal with that homogenizing the various boards the various directors has we've seen some great improvements but we still have some way to go all right thanks thank you Sir. President Ladyman you're recognized thank you Mr chairman offered to be brief but will use you have the privilege of having OSHA under you. I feel for you on that but my question is the federal mandate baxeen mandate for employees of the hundred hundred dollars or more and that's. According to what I read that's gonna be enforced through ocean or they're going to try to force it through OSHA and I know you're not an enforcement that your group is not enforcement agency that's federal program in Arkansas but have you had any communication is there any discussion With OSHA on that well absolutely I have with OSHA as well as some stakeholders who are very concerned about how that regulations going to come down are they going to have to be under some kind of type of reporting mechanism if so are we going to be the initial entity that that interfaces with them is a great deal of concern the problem is the nuances have not all been worked out we still have not heard of how that's exactly going to impact impact industry but yes on a weekly basis we're we're discussing that with our federal counterparts. Have you thought about maybe having discussed but how your consultation service might help our state companies. In compliance and you go in and you'll do an ocean simulate those inspection so have you thought about how you can help Arkansas businesses absolutely and what I I you're recognized a little bit of a thunder but what I want to roll out initially I want to create a task force I want to work with the chamber of commerce and get the stakeholders together I'd like to get input from a from an independent task force to give me suggestions on how the industry would like to respond if and when that we've ever get final final mandates but absolutely to your point we need to be able to have our finger in that even though it's a federal concept if it affects our constituencies we need to know how it's affecting you thank you. Representative ray you're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman and thank you Mr secretary for your report I'm looking at the legislative initiative section and it doesn't mention anything about ACT seven twenty five that's the new law that waives the initial occupational licensing fee for looks certain low income our Kansans can you provide any update on the implementation of that law how that's going. Well. We are grappling with that and right now I'm not prepared to answer that at this point because we're still trying to determine exactly how that's going to apply and to which of the divisions as I alluded to each division has a different mission and so we're we're trying we're a little slow in that process because what we have to essentially do is run that by each of the boards and get buy in from each of the boards and so we're just a little slower than the typical department is in that in that area. Okay what we can perhaps we can follow up offline was conditional questions thanks I appreciate that. Senator Hammer is this really present. I promise. When all this went down some of the boards were reaching out to us expressing concerns that their funds were going to be completed when that start paying rent once everything got moved over there what is the current status as far as the board should move under you financially and are we seeing any of them to plead their funds where they're going to be asking for fee increases no Sir we will not and that none of them will be asking for fee increases in fact our fund balances are at record levels in each of the entities we do have to entities however that we inherited that were that are very in some state of financial distress they are in that predicament but not because of anything that we've done but because of of some decisions that were made prior to the time that we inherited them we understand the nature of those that that distress and we're working to to assist those two entities other than that are fund balances are are are extremely healthy and if you would want me to send you a list of those fund balances I'd be glad to do that but to the chairs if you would to dispense the committee but yes would like to get that who are the two entities thank you. Athletics. And geologists. Yeah. Thank you Mr secretary for your report thank you for your time and now thanks thank you for all you're doing seeing no further business force today we stand adjourned.