ALC-Personnel

Here. Thank you Mr chairman. Mr chairman members of the committee start with item B. and B. is requesting the department of agriculture to surrender a total of twelve positions from various divisions in return for eight positions at the same divisions request also includes the review of a newly requested title of senior laboratory scientist at a great GS eleven the total cost of the changes would be roughly half a million dollars for the year according to OPM OPM is recommended but the swap positions and the new classification. It members no action required on this right now I'm sorry I apologize. So I need a motion so I need a motion for this. I have a motion and I have a second. All in favor. In the post. Thank you to pass Mr chairman items see his request for the department of commerce is based apartment Division Baek park is requesting five new certified senior bank senior examiner positions at GS thirteen the growth pool these positions requested due to the increasing responsibilities to the states banking institutions and their continued growth the agency is also requesting to surrender to positions of payroll services coordinator at GS seven in a procurement coordinator SJS eight in return for one budget manager energy SO nine in a fiscal support manager at yes or not the two employees in the positions surrendered we transfer into the new positions to the change due to a change of increasing duties and properly support the fiscal and human resources division opium is recommended requests and estimates the cost of the five group will positions to be roughly half a million dollars and the cost of the swap will position to be built to be about fourteen thousand dollars the increase salaries for the two incumbents with that Mister chairman taking questions in members do you have any questions. Seeing no questions. Do I have a motion. I have a motion and I have a second. All in favor hi. In this past. Mr chairman I'd D. is a request from the department of education to move to I. T. related positions in one position for the department of higher education to the department of education's shared services division opium is recommended the movement of the positions which will not increase the number of positions or generate any cost because the positions are currently filled. Members do I have any questions. I no questions. Do I have a motion. I have a motion and a second I have a question. Takes me a minute Mr yes Sir. We're moving these positions a shared services Tony to hear that correct. Yes Sir the department of education's shared services division. His or somebody from the Department here they can answer questions yes Sir I believe so. Good afternoon if you would please state your name. Thank you Mr Greg Rogers from education. To let the limit department of education thank you. Thank you Mr Greg can you tell me what the benefit is to the department for moving these positions to shared services what what's the goal. Yes so the I. T. positions are moving his church services to split IT functions that we have for our divisions to be able to have our chief information officers on those I. T. positions are and different projects we may have different things we have me doing different portals we're creating only the higher its size or the data we're year and a half into transformation and we're just now moving these to to shared services right the mean what if that benefits there where was about a year and a half ago when transformation went through so those positions were in higher ed and we had left in their high eight at a time when we were working on then there we were working on a new portal for the scholarship applications but after reviewing after looking at those positions the better people than church services so we can have our chief information officer have more insight and more over you of what those I. T. positions are doing in that portal as well as some for daisy. Mr I'm almost get more answers offline if you would I want to put a hold on this to Friday but more than likely I release it depending on the information yes Sir thank you. Which. Okay it members although we've already had a motion I'm ahead and hold this and we'll move on to the next. This one. Yeah okay Senator Chesterfield you're recognized thank you Mr chair what is supposed to be the benefit of the movement. Our hope is by moving over there that we don't have as much contract calls for outside vendors for qradar portals that we have more oversight as a department for how the department's going to move forward in both daisy side and higher its side as well as our the deployment of school anywhere that we need I. T. services will be able to utilize all of our pool of I. T. services instead of having to look outside for having those because we'll have those all within our church services do they have the capacity to do all of that. And would give you comfort that they do have the capacity to take care of all that is entailed in Education. So to to position people that are in there right now they do have a programming and creation I don't know the technical term for for other do the I. T. for creating their different web of portals in the applications that we are using what they have been doing that already by bringing in the shared server on the higher inside by bringing him in the shared services it allows hired CIO to have more resources to do that and to help train them in some of those that they might not be strong with on the deskside but it should help was not had as many IT contracts so was the CEO. Coordinator information center Mason officer regency car he's our currency I know that is in charge of the the different web applications that we are working on and if it proves to be non full full what does one do that now that you've given up all of your I. T. to another division if that proves to be less than efficient than what does one do what is a Department do what's plan B. if it doesn't work out. So I don't I don't know the I don't know from Flanders and if it if the I. T. positions that we have they're not able to perform the job that we're asking to do any they can't perform the job when it sent to transformation what's plan B.. So plan B. would be that if that person not able to the job that we would hope to have somebody in which he. Thank you. The members to have any additional questions. Representative Wardlaw. Thank you Mr president Senator Chesterfield asked that question it's almost exactly the same thing I ask would and we got a little bit different answer what what is the savings projected from those contracts that you will be saving by moving these people to shared services do you have a projected savings. I don't have any project savings with me right now I don't I don't I don't you know come to us and you want to move positions to save money on contracted services but you don't know what that is. I don't have it with me I can get thank you thank you Mr. Mr Hamid questions sing none will table this and then the hold and then we'll move on. Representative Wardlaw do you want to hold this for Friday or hotel next month. Just try to thank you. By Mister chairman I to II this is a request from the department health there are questions surrender to positions environmental supervisor in an environmental health specialist in return for two GIS analyst positions the two new positions will be used to assist mapping. Bacteriological and just infection by product sites water system storage tanks and water system service areas request will not increase the number of positions at the department in opium is estimate the cost of these two positions will come out roughly a hundred thousand dollars OPM has recommended the swap of the. Members do I have any questions. Senator Chesterfield you're recognized could you tell me specifically what the GIS analyst is supposed to do that the aviation environmental supervisor or environmental health specialist cannot do. Okay would you answer the place. The GIS analyst works with mapping and plotting where they need to go because that they're working to find all these wells and other things that there actually having to do with your what is your S. Meeks geographic information systems so you have a geographic information specialist analyst. But you had environmental health specialist prior to this you had an eighty H. environmental supervisor prior to the estimates substantially less money. So what do they bring to the table one of the qualifications for this position first about that because the increase in pay. And as some increasing responsibility could you give me some information on that please. Yes ma'am and I think the department may be here as well if they would basically what's happening here is they weren't using them fireman health adviser or the environmental health specialist in the GIS brings that specific knowledge with the it's basically a new technology and transformation we have the office of geographic information services but in a lot of the departments they're all finding that need for that as well and this is what the safe water drinking act and everything else that is influencing then the need for this position so how long of these positions been sitting there being non or under utilized thank you get it you just a more user I. they have not been utilized for over a year these two positions what were they doing before I would have to let the health department probably response I'd love to hear from the health department. And if you would please state your name. Dot Adams Arkansas department of health. Three so a department of health. Senator Chesterfield these positions these environmental health positions we have had those field in the past in order to fulfill these functions related to GIS GIS systems are very integrated to our safe drinking water system or mapping here source water were mapping or wheels back being our sample sites are on the water towers in this this technology has become more and more complicated over time the software it's become a specialized field and in the past we've been able to do this with these lower graded non technical positions but what we've experienced recently is we're just not able to fill them even when we do any W. Q. we have difficulty in retaining these positions to perform these functions so what we're asking for is to trade these positions in that we previously used for the roles are for these higher graded technical positions and hope that we can recruit and retain the right skill level do you have people who have already applied for this or you have some people in mind already. No so it's going to be. Open anybody can apply that has the specifications necessary to do the job these will be advertised positions and open to everyone that qualifies thank you thank you Mr. And seeing and no other questions. I have a motion to have a say. I have a second. All in favor say aye. In the post. In the past. Mr chairman I don't F. is requested by the Department of Human Services for a new quote. F. as a department as requested by the department Human Services for new classification requesting classification of residential care shift manager with a grade of GS six this group request only creates the title or the job it does not create any positions the department will utilize existing positions and cross breed them to this new title because occasionally responsible for directing the operations direct care staff at state operated facilities opium is recommended the creation of the new classification. And see the sixty nine. Six nine over here. Representative Cavenaugh thank you Mr chair with this creation and gone to be I'm saying the moving people to this great how much is it going to cost this should not cost any additional funds what is happened in this case all the employees who are filling this functions are classified as a DHS program specialist at the same great the problem is that program specialist is not a eligible for overtime or writing this new title now The employees at the facilities to fill this function will be eligible for overtime which is the primary reason I had a lot of turnover there is solid so since you're going to pay them overtime now it will be an additional cost what will that eight I'm not just a great title changes will not be additional costs and I can't tell you how much of her time with the group. Thank you. Seeing no other questions do I have a motion. Mr secretary okay I have a motion the second all in favor. Any posts. Senate passes. Mr chairman I'd G. is requests for the department of Human Services division of aging adult services and behavioral health to surrender twenty five various bacon positions in return for thirteen registered nurse and nurse manager positions the agency hopes to be able to attract and hire RN's for the Arkansas Health Center in Arkansas State Hospital to replace opium positions that have been extremely hard to fill by utilizing the foreign positions or the LPN positions facilities will be able to ride more job functions and higher quality of care any additional education expertise OPM recommends requested swapping estimates the cost of a hundred and seventy five thousand. Members I'd or any questions I see none. With that do I have a motion. I have a motion to have a second. Do I have a second all in favor. I've been imposed. Senate passes. Mr chairman I don't H. this is a request from DHS division of developmental disabilities your questions for the surrender of twenty eight thank you grade one classifications in return for seven nurse practitioner positions a great MPO for the request is due to the fact that the agency in significant difficulties in hiring physician specialists for the human development centers they recognize that the human development center clients would be able to receive compared care for nurse practitioners who would be more cost effective and easier to recruit OPM recommends the requested estimates the cost of the positions to be roughly six hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Members to have any questions. Seeing none. Do I have a motion we'll I have a question I. Senator Chesterfield you're recognized ma'am I do Mr chairman and I'm not opposed to it I'm just concerned that we can't find people now what are we putting in place here a lower level of service in order to attract people what what we talking about when we're talking about paying folks last and attracting them into a very high risk area what we don't okay and the DHS is here for you also want them to explain what they've told me is that they have found that there's comparable care and institutional setting for nurse practitioners as well as what a doctor can do they can attract doctors they can get him either so calm so we're doing nurse practitioners and state yes and that's what this is requesting for. Do those interest practitioners have the same level of Of protection should they be sued as doctors do. I would just send me a test possibly answer. Because when they come to me and tell me they can do everything that a doctor can do a my question to them is do you have the same amount of liability insurance as doctors do. Since you're going to be held to that same level. So is that the case more. In March you're recognized thank you thank you Sir Clark one day just a senator since their duty state employees they would not carry liability insurance that there was a issue or claim so we have to go through the claims commission and be paid through normal route whether it's physician or APRN so if you have someone who does a terrible job they can't be sued as an individual it would have to come to us. Right and that and that's true of any state employee with which doctor APR and or or whatever okay thank you Mr. Members to have any other questions. Seeing none do I. Do I have a motion. I have a motion to have a second. I have a second all in favor. Any post. Senate passes. Mr chairman I always request from DHS is Division of Children and Family Services divide up to a twenty percent on call differential for roughly eleven hundred employees in six different family service worker classifications these are staff to provide coverage at night on weekends and holidays and cover when offices are understaffed employees would be eligible for up to twenty percent of their base pay for each phone call our up to forty eight hours in a seven day work week the approximate cost of this request would be about two and a half million dollars OPM has record. And I have a question from I believe. Representative Cavenaugh. Thank you Mr chairman I just want to verify this is going to be absorbed in their current yes ma'am that's what they've state okay so there's not too many additional funding that's needed this is just going to be absorbed okay thank you. Members to have any other questions. In a scene under I have a motion. I have a motion to have a second I have a second all in favor hi any post. Thank you. Mr chairman I'd J. is a request for the department of labor licensing for the Division the agency is requesting the creation of a new position and in a new classification to swap rule the classification requested is a DDL division of labor direct request is based on the need to classify and compensate the incumbent performing the job currently classified as the division of labor deputy director in a manner consistent with is current duties and jurisdictional job functions the agency is requesting to surrender the labour deputy director position in order to receive the new classification imposition opium is recommended request requested swap as well as the new classification expects the cost to be roughly twelve thousand dollars. In representative Cavenaugh has a question. Yes so we're creating the sensually this new classification to give an individual race yes ma'am thank you. Do I have any other questions. I'm saying none to have a motion. I have a motion to have a second. I have a second all in favor hi any post. Senate passes. Mr chairman item K. this is a request from the south Arkansas community college an old radio institution is requesting the creation of a sales and marketing manager position with a lot of a maximum of ninety nine thousand dollars an estimated actual salary of sixty to sixty eight thousand dollars the position would be created out of the higher education central growth pool and administer the which is administered by the Department higher education the position will be responsible for marketing the college's conference center in integrating the campus with the community the department of higher education is actually recommended a different title difficult for cations that's already in use by the other institutions which is Sorry recommending as a program manager the class classification and Alaina Max a hundred and one thousand dollars but roughly the same estimated salary of sixty two thousand sixty eight thousand. Members do I have any questions. I none do I have a motion. I was I have a motion and I have a second. All in favor hi any opposed. Thank you. Hi Mister chairman of L. this is a short for questions the department of commerce's division of workforce services they're requesting to surrender for admin specialist agreed yes of two and one institutional services assistant at a GSO one in return one chief financial officer grade GS fifteen UBS would like the ability to attract highly qualified individual with knowledge of government accounting federal and state laws as well as grant requirements in public assistance cost allocation plans the chief fiscal officer would be responsible for administering it mensuration of all physical activities it DWS opium recommends requested position and estimates the cost of creating and filling this position will be roughly ninety five thousand dollars. I have a question by Senator Chesterfield you're recognized ma'am thank you Mr chair it seems that we're cutting out five lower paying positions are those specific positions currently filled are we firing people in order to make room for somebody who's making ninety six hundred and forty thousand dollars. Senator Chuck senator Chesterfield I can answer that these are not fill positions okay right now they're vacant they are not feel it so we're not we're not letting anybody strode in order to give somebody a big all right so I thank you. And representative Cavenaugh you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair they're currently not field positions but do we not need these individuals working so that we can get the workload down for DWS because we have a backlog. I believe doctor children's is in the room and probably could address that more specifically represent if she should come. And if you would state your name Sri's children first director division of workforce services thank you doctor thank you Dr Childress. With these positions that are not filled in that you're wanting to surrender for this one are they not positions that we need failed to kind of help us with the issues that are facing with the backlog they not help with that situation. We have thank you for the question as with all positions in state government and especially within our agency we have not been able to feel these level of positions at an entry salary of twenty two thousand or twenty three thousand dollars other ended individuals that were working at our P. U. a service center would yes six is just to give you a. A comparison of what it takes to attract someone specially in today's job market. Follow up Mr. Yes ma'am go ahead we don't currently have a CFO. No our CFO resigned take a job in the private sector. Did we already had this over the certain salary this is going to increase that salary. Yes we have requested a GS fifteen in order to attract someone with the skill sets that we need to to work within our agency with over six billion dollars of in funding this past fiscal year and with all the grants programs that we have an operation it's important to get someone with the skills and education that we need okay thank you thank you. Members say no other questions do I have a motion. I have a motion to I have a second. I have a second all in favor. It imposed. In that has passed. Thank you chairman thank you members of the committee thank you doctor. Mr chairman item number one is the miscellaneous federal grant request from agriculture that includes a position the class pay classification grants manager grade yes online position in the funding were approved by your earlier this week personnel is responsible for reviewing the classification that was requested for the position position will be used for the specialty crop block grant program to enhance specialty crops in Arkansas they're provided and is provided to the grant by the USDA opium is recommended the grants manager classification. Members I have any questions. Send none I have a motion to I have a second I have a second all in favor say aye hi that impose. Senate passes thank you. Mr chairman items into this is a request from the department health based on based on grant funding provided by the American rescue plan the CDC as with the previous request peers approve the appropriation and the positions attached because cations listed in this request will be utilized for the department of health to provide service under the national initiative to address COVID nineteen health disparities among populations at high risk and under served including racial and ethnic minority populations in rural communities opium is recommended the listed classifications. Members to have any questions. I see none I have a motion to have a second. I have a second all in favor. Any opposed. Senate passes thank you. Mr chairman of items in In P. R. reports that require no action the first is the personal actions report that at that's item in item is a personal actions report from OPM the first which are higher at six PM and in P. is a provisional positions report from the from the Department higher ed for a new provisional positions but there's no action on is not take any questions if there are any. I see no questions the standing committee reviewed. Hi Mister chairman and the last item on the agenda item Q. go find this in the back of the package the discussion ACT seventy six as it relates to there's a there's a study component tax of ninety six That is intended to study eliminated positions and transparency in budget Mr chairman. That I. Let's discuss how. Members do you have any questions and discussion on this. And senator Chesterfield yes Sir you're recognized this was passed in conjunction with the legislation is there a proposed cost to implementing this should be a doctor. Okay. What is the deadline for receiving the report and that this at this time there's no known cost if it expands the there may be a cost center for. December twenty second centers real. To be done by the bureau I know I apologize December of twenty twenty two okay is this supposed to be done by the bureau it's less than specific. Which the. Sir Chesterfield it's a study to be done by about this subcommittee personnel so many. So personnel supposed to do the study I have a lot of that is. All right thank you Mr thank you I'm sorry that. Yes. Okay it members regarding the study if you have anything you like to put into it C. put into it you can reach out to the either Mr Robinson here are either myself or David Hillman. And see no other questions. we are adjourned thank you.