ALC-PEER

it's on the on the top your call their in so with that I'd like to move to suspend the rules consider the supplemental agenda without objection either no objections I with that will kick off a one. Thank you Mr the first section is our very simply appropriation requests there's only one item on the agenda this is for the department of labor licensing professional bill bonds in licensing board and this letter is requesting increase appropriation by twenty eight thousand four hundred the Senator allow the board to purchase fourteen U. computers with a three year warranty both for staff and to administer tests for licensing renewals the letter explains performance is lagging in their current equipment as it is out of date the board supported by fees on bonds license renewals and penalties and for the committee's information Arkansas Ricco Arkansas Code requires seventy five percent the balance in this fund to be transferred to jail revenue at the end of the year sure that's requests for various degree. I thank you members when we go in the direction B. one do we have any questions on B. one. Any comments. I was will the committee. We got a motion to approve got a second any discussion seeing nine thousand favor signify by saying aye All opposed motion carries. Thank you Mr chairman section see now this is the cares appropriation request was on when item it's a letter from the department of health this is to increase the preparation by one point six five million the Department health is administering funds on behalf of the division of higher education at the edge at the education department and to the they'll be reimbursing campuses for to a processing expenses the also administer these funds for the minority health commission to operate a mobile health unit with the health equity mobile response team sure that is the care requests. I thank you any questions or comments on C. one. All right seeing none was will the committee got a motion to approve we got a second all those in favor any discussion seeing none all in favor signify by saying aye of those opposed motion carries. Thank you Mr chairman section D. now the easy these are the American rescue plan request according to the cover letter by the CFO the first seven requests pull appropriation from the line item set up for those agencies institutions and local governments that were awarded a R. P. funds directly from the federal government the last two requests pulls being twenty from the line and set up for the state to work funds that's to the steering committee. The first item is on page three it's for Arkansas state university this is a request to spend four point one million in a R. P. funds according to the letter that's found behind the request the funds would be used to make H. FAQ improvements on the Jonesboro campus the method of finance for this activity is on the review subcommittee's agenda later today the next request is on page seven. This is for Arkansas tech university it's request to reallocate spending authority that was previously awarded by a L. C. last month within the line items in their budget the requested to move appropriation from capital outlay to professional fees according to the explanation on the next page Arkansas Code requires H. fact projects over one hundred thousand to use a licensed engineer and in the original quest last month for the proposed budget did not provide sufficient spent thirty professional fees to account for this requirement code. The next request is on page nine. This is for northwest technical institute it's request has been eight hundred eighty nine thousand and A. R. P. funds on the next page that follows it the institution shows that five hundred and seventy one thousand will be distributed as emergency financial aid grants to students and three hundred eighteen thousand be used to install HX system in the collegiate center the next request is on page thirteen. This is for the department of health answering questions been forty point four million in these funds and to establish a positions on the next page the department's plans the CDC has contributed funds to address COVID nineteen related disparities their office of health equity and office of rural health primary care will collaborate with partners throughout the state through community base of grants. In the middle of the page it shows the four strategies outlined by the CDC the partners can use to apply for funds and below that it shows the goals of this program in addition to the eight full time positions there will also be thirty two extra help positions that will be staff throughout the department. The next request is on page fifteen. This is for the division of environmental quality answer request to spend five point seven million. And their explanation the Division shows how the funds will support the low income household water assistance program for the elderly persons with disabilities and those with young children home in the home in our risk of having water service is discontinued at the bottom of the page table shows three quarters of the funds would go to direct benefits with the ballot supporting administration out regions of personal costs Nicks request is on page seventeen. This is for Arkansas State university and it's a request to spend two point three million the funds would be used to provide emergency aid relief to students and to reimburse the college for lost revenue. Next item is on page twenty one. This is for the Department health ins request to spend ninety point eight million following the request there's a four page document that outlines how funds awarded by the CDC would be use the department will provide testing resources to the K. through twelve school districts to identify cases rapidly and mitigate the spread of COVID within the school setting this will be done by providing financial support to the salary and other costs associated with the voting staff time to performing these duties and by procuring surveillance testing programs. Next item is on page twenty six. The next two requests of our items Rick recommend us use the recommended by the air peace during committee all previous items were directed towards those agencies from the federal government this request is for DFA disbursing officer it's for fifteen million and according to the letter the funds will be used to reimburse state agencies for the cost of purchasing personal protective equipment a list of pre approved items for purchase can be found on the following pages. On the next requested on page thirty. And this is for the economic development commission it's request is one hundred eight point four million and A. R. P. funds for the rule broadband program this item is being pulled by agency request the agency has to new items the stability and it's be considered instead of instead of this one for the broadband program but there are some documents in this request pertain to the program if you wanna referred to. So now we'll go to the supplemental agenda Mr. This is a set aside packet on your desk subliminal gymnast three items the first one eighty one. Is on page three. This is for you A. M. S. it's request to spend five point six million in the RP phones. This request is get the spending authority to spend the funds that will be sent to the hospital from the A. R. P. award those approved for DHS on August nine on that date DHS was awarded a R. P. appropriation to provide resources for search staffing at hospitals throughout the state in response to covid because you M. S. is a state entity they also have to have approval to spend the the RP dollars. Next item is on page ten of supplemental agenda. This is item A. two four ADC. This first request by the economic to the commission is for sixty five point six million in the R. P. funds and is for the first eighteen projects listed on the next page that been provided technical review by you M. S. international ready for the committee's information the commission originally requested a hundred and fifty million in July after discussion and you'll see the request was revised at thirty one million and approved and direction was provided to the commission to resubmit the balance of the request once a detailed plan on use of funds is completed today's request also includes two point five million for consulting contract with C. T. H. and the next commission request is on page twelve. This last request is for eighty one point five nine million and it's dedicated to projects number nineteen to forty six on the following page they're still under review by you M. S. according to the agency a number of these projects will have their review complete by Friday and will be shovel ready sure those roller quest I thank you members we're gonna go just one item at a time D. one through the eight if you have questions that your mind will bring up the appropriate parties So I've got a C. thirty six. On. Okay it in so if you can what is it on the one. Okay I'm gonna run through these you can get your Mike we get to to be for that way we're not pulling people from all over the place. All right so any questions on the one. D. two. D. three. And you're going to be recognized on the for representative. The Department health appear for court. And if you could just take your seat recognize yourself of the committee and a representative will be recognized for a question. Good morning my name is John Thompson a chief financial officer for the Arkansas department health. Good morning don Adams deputy director Arkansas department health. The morning doctor Michelle Smith director of office of health equity in HIV elimination for the department of health. Thank thank you all for being here I just looking at the health outcomes for our minorities when it comes to cope but I find it very troubling that we haven't some serious outcome so looking at what you M. S. is doing with the monoclonal antibodies really making the more available throughout their clinics throughout the entire state to really get better health outcomes or any of these going to be involved with that and making sure that our minorities know where those stations are and how to be made available to that option. Yes ma'am part of this grant will have a monoclonal antibody squad where a team of nurses APR ends are working and will work to reach out to individuals that are found to be positive and they will first make sure they're aware of the treatment and the and navigate help them navigate the system to ensure that they are connected to an infusion center perfect exactly one here thank you chairman I appreciate the opportunity. I think you do have any other questions on the for. All right seeing none thank you all very much any questions on the five. D. six. The seven. Forty eight. All right seeing nine members what I'd like to do is get a motion to approve items D. one three D. eight D. eight. We've got a motion we got a second. Who's who's Mike seventeen you have a question before we move. Okay in the nines off the table that includes the supplemental. okay we got a motion and second to approve all those in any discussion saying aye those in favor signify by saying aye All those opposed motion carries and right now we're just going to take each one of the items in the supplemental so we'll start things with a one. We have any questions on a one. In discussion. I'm not seeing nine. Got a motion to approve. We got a second all those in favor signify by saying aye All opposed motion carries on a two. Centers Chesterfield you're recognized for a question on a two Senator is not only two but at some point what we know about broadband and is broadband expansion we know we if we have made a connected at a certain amount of money at what point do we look at the rest of the proposal R. R. is there a time line I know I'm out of order because it's not going with this but it is a question that like to understood I'm gonna go ahead and recognize representative gene because I think he has some background on that. You're recognized. You have mine dealing with the how to Adam three of a of I would like to make a motion since the shovel ready projects already ready to go that we approve the sixty eight million one hundred twenty five thousand. Of make a motion to approve them now. Emotional be owned by item three is that I I move that we authorize the co chairs of Legislative Council to approve these projects the ones that are not shovel ready when they receive technical review and are already for up to be shovel ready so those those the two motions going to make. and who missed Chesterfield center just on any questions we'll try to answer. As we look at the shovel ready projects. Leschi county seems to not be there anywhere. And there are substantial areas rule areas in my district which is what I represent I represent mostly rural areas I'm just wondering what the plans are for rural areas that are in large counties that we assume have broadband access but do not. Was someone from the FBA or probably. Farmers. You could just go ahead recognize yourself to the committee in you're welcome answer questions. Jim Dotson ADC. David bell CFO eighties or a bar commerce. Senate bill I think I heard the the question was let me repeat it one of the things that is troubling to me is that we assume that large dog that large counties like Pulaski or some Basque unical or watching or bed and automatically have all their citizens and broadband I'm trying to find out because I represent substantially the rule sections of Pulaski County which don't have access they can squeeze the listens the did Jeter's that nobody sort of the committee so what are the plans for Pulaski County and other areas that may have rule substantial areas that are not included in what I'm seeing today yes ma'am a couple of parts the answer your question first all construct the art program the the grant program we're asking for appropriation today that really is initiated by internet service providers in partnership with cities and counties in so the agency doesn't initiate making a war to pick account we're depend upon someone bringing to us an application is filed there had been in the last beginning and find out what's going on if they if they have some group working on application but I think the broader conversation is there are other parts of the state that may be that the ark program is not a best suited for and we've had conversations obviously on one basis with this body about engaging a consultant to come in and you're not hold more holistic study and to see maybe there might be a different solution set that could be applicable for like a Pulaski County and that is in the works I think that consultant is does not consult with F. R. P. process that award should be happening next month or so an appropriation will come to a LC next month for the fun that so that be part of the answer as well so these thanks these do these funds do not drain the treasury of broadband money is that right. Well they they do count against the award that's come to understand that there will be some money left I believe will be yes ma'am I need a more than I believe. In the end it is this body that makes the determination as to you know how we want this money what is left in that batch of money that's a specific question there's not a separate batch for broadband it all comes out of the fiscal recovery funds of one point six billion dollars is my question unclear how much money was there and how much are you expanding and how much will be left. Ma'am I try to be evasive I don't know how much it spent for fiscal recovery funds the one point six billion dollars okay thank you is there somebody who does know I suspect if they can answer that question well let's see Robert back up if I may Mr yes ma'am some. Thank you spent. You could just go ahead recognized suffer the committee and I think we're just looking for the balance of the remaining if we spend you know these two items everything else that's been spent so far currently there's three hundred and apartment three and seventeen million dollars remaining in the fund that doesn't thank you so much Mister. I thank you senator. Teague you're recognized. Complicated mechanics here Mr right. I don't know if somebody somewhere is tracking all this. but I get calls from people saying we need you to support this project we need you to do this and. I ask if they're going the last mile after taking the service all the way out to people and then they don't want to answer those questions I'm concerned. And I know a pleasure to a state that now has three broadband services because of care money flowing in various ways I'm concerned that we're not. That we're spending money without being sure we're spending it the right place and it does anybody know the answer to that question. I would respond to think that's part of the two point five is that correct make sure that we're yes Sir okay. Time elaborate yes Sir every application Senator Teague we have to go through we look at the engineering schematics are submitted to us by the ISP they're making assurances to us as to here's the area that we're going to cover that in the application of the agreement they signed has covenants in it that they have to provide service to those individuals are in that area who want to receive that service and so we do we do track compliance with the agreement in terms of again the more holistic picture about you know are we doing everything we can do to address deficiencies all over the state that's part of engaging the consultant to come in and do that study and that work will get done. Mr chairman you you know me to be cynical before I remain that way and I I'm almost inclined to quit voting for any of these just because I can't tell if accomplish anything or not but I appreciate it thank you Sir. Thank you senator samples you're recognized welcome. I'm a lot okay. That up barely of your first up I want to get a clarification on representative genes motion that that was the first one but back to what Mr McVeigh said that we started with a billion six and you said we've got a balance of three hundred and some odd million and I don't mean certificate I discuss I don't think that's right I we've we spent the about that much Joan of the hospitals and we spent about a hundred and hundred twenty maybe on broadband but of if we've only got three hundred we've we only got a balance of three hundred some odd million I I'm gonna have to get some explanation where of the billion six went to sure Senator Ingram if I think in the last page of your or there's a page at the back of your package that has a a spreadsheet that shows the recovery funds at the the recovery fines of one point five billion one point six billion dollars was split into two tranches the the state of Arkansas received personally seven hundred eighty six million dollars as the first half of the recovery finds that the state would receive we anticipate that you're from the initial funding we will receive the second half of okay funding so it'll come twelve months later so there's a billion that's what we said okay yes I'm so of the of the seven hundred eighty six million the allocations that have been made had been pre approved by the legislature and there's a balance of three hundred seventeen million seven or nineteen thousand seven hundred ninety dollars okay that that that that adds up it was just a generalizes in two tranches. And they can members and and that's L. five in your pack if you're looking for the summary in in which at the proper time would would represent Jean restate his motion I wanna make sure I understood yeah we're gonna do these in two parts in it you know so the first motion is just to approve item a to which for the shovel ready projects and the two point five million dollars for the consultant eighty three I will be to allow the chair's avail C. to approve at the remaining my items once they are shovel ready and my understanding to be doing those all at one time so they're not gonna piece meal out of any particular item but it'll be approval of all the items one time when they are ready that that's that would be my question so we're giving authority from now own from from from now own any project that's shovel ready for the chair's park just these that are here just the center here okay in eight eight three. Nine members with any other questions. All right seeing none I would get a motion to approve item a two by representative gene we've got a second injuring discussion on the motion seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye All those opposed motion carries got a motion by representative gene for a three that we will allow the chairs of A. L. C. to approve any of the projects that are on this list moving forward when they are shovel ready. And and there are twenty eight identified projects so that that's on that list is not just a number we don't know there's twenty eight projects that will be whether reviewed shall ready to. All right so members we've got a motion we got a second string discussion on the motion. All right seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye All those posed motion carries. All right that takes care of our supplemental in all the items in the we're gonna move to equal the one. Thank you Mr section II is the appropriation of funds transfer request. This is the letter from the department health on behalf of the minority health commission to transfer fifteen thousand an appropriation from an operating expenses line item to a promotional items of promotional items line item in the appropriation bill the commission has a special language section that allows such a transfer after approval by LC the letter says the we use a spinning three to five promotional items as part of their out reach and awareness efforts and events in minority communities. I thank you members is there any questions on item. Offy one. In discussion. All right we've got a motion to approve we got a second all those in favor signify by saying aye. All those opposed motion carries F. one. The shares section F. is the researchers are a fund transfer recommendation. There's only one item is for the northwest technical institute it's request received one hundred fifty seven thousand eight hundred ninety one from the restrict reserve fund. Orton to the letter the transfer will offset the category D. funding that was not reinstated in the fiscal year twenty two revenue stabilization amendment. All right we do have questions Senator Hickey you're recognized thank you Mr no problem whatsoever with the with the funding actually want to do this my only request is going to be that to we ask D. FNA or whoever's going to be responsible to bring us back a a letter that actually doesn't take it out of. This this restricted reserve account which what they're doing is taken out of the executive legislative set aside it needs to be coming out of the General discretionary set aside. Of what they're taking it out of is something that would require a three foot three this approval which is more restricted for lack of a better word they should be coming out of the the other. I think Senator Members do we have any other questions or comments on F. one. Seeing none in the so that would require a new letter to be sent by DFA and so we can just pass over this item I mean if there's no one that wants to make a motion on the item and then considered the full A. L. C. Friday. That's that's correct that's what I will all right members do we have any discussion comments on F. one and make sure everybody understands kind of how we're moving forward. All right very good we're gonna pass over item if one. You're recognized process they were passing over it are we going to consider it before full council or wait until the next meeting appear. Yeah work room consider it would if there's a new letter submitted with the fifty for a fifty percent threshold and will consider it at the full A. L. C. thank you thank you. All right that takes care of our approval items now items reviewed G. one. Thank you Mr G. begins of the cash appropriation request was only one on the agenda it's for the department of agriculture this is requested increase appropriation by nine thousand for the board of registration for foresters new spending thirty will allow the board to update their database to generate receives and up the licensee information this activity will be supported by registration fees the board collects. I thank you members of any questions on G. one. Any comment seeing number got a motion we got a second any discussion on the motion seeing none all in favor signify by saying aye opposed motion carries H. one. Section H. or the budget classification transfer request. the item one is for the state claims commission this is request to transfer three thousand from conference and travel expenses to operating expenses the transfer is due to increased expenses in this line item from improvements to their database increased cost of supplies rented equipment. Thank you members may be questions on H. one. Comments seeing none we've got a motion we've got a second any discussion scene nine also favor signify by saying aye All the suppose motion carries. All right section nine section are the miscellaneous federal grant appropriation requests of the first items for the Department agriculture this is requests for sixty seven thousand an appropriation to spend federal funds and to establish a position we have a grant from the USDA to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops this item is one hundred percent federally funded the positions grant a grants manager will be reviewed for tiling grade in personal subcommittee. The next item I to use for the Department king Services aging adult and behavioral health it's request for five hundred forty one thousand appropriation they have a grant to incorporate custody and referral functions into the database for training and for a conference this item is seventy five percent federally funded the balance to be made up by a staging revenue. Nicks itemized three is for the Department education division of higher education it's request for one point seven million an appropriation and a grant from the department of labor to implement a project that will train and mentor eligible Arkansans in information technology occupations this item is a hundred and thirty funded. Next item I for is for the public health this item will be is pulled agency request so moving to the next item is I. five this is for the department of energy and environment. it's request for seven point three million appropriation they have a grant from the department of health and Human Services to assist low income households in meeting their immediate home water systems needs this water companies the American rescue plan award this of committee saw in an earlier section of the agenda this items hundreds in fairly funded this year those are all the energies all right thank you I members just take questions wanted time any questions on I. one. I to. Hi three. Or I five. All right seeing none need a motion. I've got a motion to review items I one two three and five got a second all those in favor signify by saying aye All opposed motion carries down the reports. Thank you Mr first reported in report this is for the division of workforce services. A special language in their appropriation bill requires report to ale C. showing all transfers of general revenue to the Department of Human Services. On the second page table shows three point four million was transferred for ten if the ministry of in program costs. Any questions on a J. one. All right see none. Mr we're on Katie's or quarterly reports K. one is the DHS inter agency and inter divisional match a match fund transfer report. And this shows quarterly interagency and those that fund transfers as required and special language the report shows over three point one million transfers from the individual division's funding counts to the corresponding grants payment accounts. Next item is key to this is the Office of Attorney General Castleman fun and this report shows the quarterly cash account activity the report details seven settlements. And shows the balance of cash fund cash receipts disbursement in a transaction detail for the following pages next item is K. three. This is the state police in this report shows asset forfeiture expenditures for each quarter of the fiscal year the first page of the portions nine hundred and seventy in expenditures for the fourth quarter that's at the TPC zero one hundred fun this is the phone for federal asset forfeitures and on the second page is eighty six thousand and expenditures in the fourth quarter of the TPC zero two hundred fun course as the fund for state asset forfeitures. The next report the next to reports K. four through T. five bills or the federal grant applications and award reports and these reports show all the application was with the agencies in the fourth quarter of fiscal year twenty twenty one. Moving the case six this is the last quarterly report and and it's the eighty Q. status report on Bella Vista hazardous waste removal. This report is required a special language that the agency received twenty million an additional preparation and the ability to receive a ten million dollar loan from the budget stabilization trust fund to remediate the underground fire site noticed. One to this report total expenses incurred by the state to date R. one point three million no expenses remained the last quarter all expenses have been paid out of the house is remedial trust fund and a loan from the budget stabilization trust fund is not required. The Bill Evans the property owners association assumed ownership over the project and completed fire suppression in June of two thousand eighteen and is currently working on restoration plans. What states agency is actively investigating potentially responsible parties who could be held liable to the state for cost of the remedial recovery actions at the site sure those are all the quarterly reports all right thank you members of any questions on the reports. All right seeing none with the monthly reports thank you Mr the first month report is L. one this is this is a new reporter takes the place of the rainy day fund report that the subcommittees take up this is the surplus income distribution report and it shows sources of unobligated funds and the distributions for the rainy day restrict reserve and long term reserve funds as of the end of July the rainy day fund shows no distributions in the balance of sixteen point five seven million three six reserve shows ninety seven million distributions and an overall balance of seventy three point seven eight billion the long term reserve balances one point two billion. The next item L. two. Is the budget stabilization trust fund report and it shows cash flow loans drug fiscal year as of the end of July the R. twenty point six million in outstanding loans and cash balances a hundred seventy seven point nine million. The next item is the tobacco settlement report and this report gives a summary of income fund balances investments actual payments to the state and on the second page all expenses are fiscal year. L. for is the seasonal Services Fund report and it shows the fund balance and disbursements as well as expenditures in each agency supported by the fund. In our last report L. five is the A. R. P. steering committee reports. Is rather force Mr. I thank you members to any questions on the reports. All right Senator Hickey. It just okay six if if the appropriate agency now estimates eighty Q. if they would remember I believe what we did is we inserted that this act was I mean that this report was required within an act I'm afraid I did that I don't think that they can stop although whenever this is done I just wanna make sure that at the appropriate time whatever organization that somebody remembers to repeal that so if we can make a note of that. Well thank you. Senator Chesterfield you're recognized for a question yes thank you Mr. I'm. I'm not sure at the rate that is that there is any report that has come before peer on the dispensation of our disposing of moneys that are trying to rental assistance utility assistance and also mortgage assistance and if not I would say I would ask the chair that we look into what is going on with that because we still have less than ten percent of the moneys my understanding is being distributed to help landlords to help a utility companies recoup monies that have been lost so is that what a part of this report or do I need to ask someone else I do not believe it be part of this particular report and we can make a request to have them come in just give an update at the next meeting if that would work or just having to get with you individually I would appreciate it very much to give you individually or not I'd like for them to tell everybody because everybody here has individuals in their districts that are behind in their rent behind in the utilities they need that money rolled out as quickly as possible so I think it's a universal concern all right in in because of the timing if we can have the you know someone from the agency reach out to the center Chesterfield and also I plan on making a meter you know we're having discussion at the next meeting. All right thank you members do we have any other business. All right seeing none with that thank you for your time this morning and we are adjourned.