Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC)

Members will grab receipt will go and get started. Call this meeting to order I see a quorum. With that do I have a motion on the June minutes. I have a motion and a second. All those in favor say aye. Oppose ayes have it motion minutes are not often Senator Elliot do you have a Thank you Mr chairman recognized I members you know a lot of us work together to try to get things done sometimes it works out sometimes not sometimes we love it sometime we don't but we still managed to what one another and I want to just recognize us is on down Daniel right now who is with the Arkansas education association the most of you know she will be moving on to work up for kids in DC and I just would like you to stand up for a second let us recognize you in thank you for your work. For those of you who don't know she is an original our cans and from me now. Thank you. We wish you a lot of good luck in your new endeavor. So with that we'll move on to the revenue report miss Ellie Senate. Good morning members Ellie Senate BLR. I'm presenting the June twenty twenty one revenue report. Since that is the end of the fiscal year these numbers now account for all twelve months. Net general revenues are up sixteen point six percent from last year the net available for distribution is up nineteen percent. On the second page you'll see the graph. Net general revenues available for distribution one nine hundred and forty five point seven billion above forecast and I've also included what the number would have been if the forecasts have not been revised that would have been one billion one hundred and fifty eight million. Maybe the page three. See that gross receipts taxes are up thirteen point three percent from last year in total income taxes are up eighteen point six percent I'd be happy to take any questions. Any questions from members. C. N. nine thank you for your report thank you. With that we'll go to the executive subcommittee report co chair senator rice. Thank you Mr. The executive subcommittee met July first reviewed and approved an emergency rule from a ETC regarding the Arkansas rule connect program the subcommittee also met on Wednesday and Thursday of this week and presentation from the single group related to its ongoing employee health benefit study. H. meeting on Thursday subcommittee recommended approval of a contract between BLR and moody's analytics or consulting services related to state income tax review Mister I move adoption of the report. That's proper motion and second all those in favor say aye. All opposed us have it report is adopted that will move on to the administrative rules report Senator Kim Hammer. You're recognized thank you Mr demonstrated rule subcommittee met Tuesday July twentieth subcommittee adopted bureau's report of action of the twenty twenty one regular session requiring new rulemaking subcommittee adopted the report of the executive subcommittee concerning approval of an emergency rule subcommittee also received an agency update on delinquent rulemaking under ACT five seventeen to two thousand nineteen all rules were reviewed and approved in Mr chairman I moved for the adoption of this report. It's proper motion drive second. I have a second all those of favour say aye. All oppose ayes have it report is adopted with that we'll move on to Senator Ricky Hill for the game and fish state police from meeting. You're recognized Mister chair. The game and fish state police about metes met Wednesday July twenty first twenty twenty one subcommittee discussed following items updates and new initiatives from the Arkansas state police and introduction of new director and goes for the Arkansas game and fish commission. With that I recommend we approve this is proper motion. I have a second. Second all those in favor say aye. All oppose ayes have it report is adopted move on to the medical marijuana oversight senate bill sample. Thank you Mr chairman the medical medical marijuana oversight committee met Tuesday July twenty twenty one to subcommittee heard testimony regarding price structures as well as cold conveyed or and dispensary license. With that I'll make a motion to operation. Not a motion and second. Thank you have a question okay motion and a second all those in favor say aye. VOL posed Is have it report is adopted with that we'll move on to the peer report represent a few banks you are recognized. Thank you Mr chair the peer subcommittee met on Monday July nineteenth as noted in the report to subcommittee approved and reviewed a number of requests and receive reports the subcommittee held item C. seven American rescue plan released request for Arkansas tech I move adoption of the report as submitted and it's my understanding that Senator Hickey will have a motion on the tech request after the adoption of this report. That's proper motion drive second I have a second all those in favor say aye. All oppose ayes have it Senator Hickey you are recognized for your motion a yes members this is as it relates to I don't see seven of that your report that the representing Eubanks was just to. Discussing I move that I don't see seven the American rescue plan released request for Arkansas tech for twelve point six five million be approved and that the issue of procedures followed by Arkansas tech related to the one point one million a or P. release approved by council in June for emergency financial aid grants be referred to legislative audit to determine the procedures used by Arkansas tech related to release of those phones. That's proper motion drive second I have a second all those in favor say aye. All opposed ayes have it motion is adopted with that we'll move on to represent a vault for policy making. Thank you you're recognized thank you Mr chair the policy making subcommittee met on Thursday and heard from Senator Hickey regarding a consultant service contract between BLR in the moody's analytics a copy of the scope of work after the contract is attached you report the subcommittee adopted a motion to recommend approval of the contract with move moody's for the scope of work presented in the amount of two hundred eighty eight thousand contingent upon the agreement by moody's to the pending revisions requested by BLR and that if the contract is not finalized by Fardy July twenty third A. L. C. cochairs be given the authority by the LC to approve the final form of the contract with those terms Mister chair it is my understanding that all revisions requested by BLR have been made to the contract and I moved for adoption of the report. I have a motion and a second all those in favor say aye. All opposed Is have it report is adopted but I will move on to the review report Senator Flippo you're recognized thanks chairman the review subcommittee met on Monday and review the methods of finance discretionary grants and services contracts there were three items held for Arkansas tech university hold on those items have been released and I move adoption report including the review of all the held items. Proper motion drive second. Second second all those in favor say aye. All opposed us have it a report is adopted so that will move on to the personnel report members I will bring to your attention that as we take a personnel report we will take up the supplemental agenda item so we'll take the report first and then the supplemental agenda items with that representative Hillman you are recognized thank you Mr chairman the personnel committee met on July twentieth of the committee reviewed and approved items listed in number four one through fifteen on the report which include new request continuations of previously reviewed requests and reports are the. Happy to ask and answer any questions if there are any otherwise I move for the adoption of this report thank you as proper motion is seconded all those in favor say aye. All opposed Is haven't report is adopted so with that I need a motion to suspend rules to take up the supplemental on show moved a motion and second all those in favor say aye. Oppose ayes have it so with that I'm going to recognize secondary graves to explain to us the of these three positions and you are recognized in addition suffered a committee please the morning mist Mr chairman members of of the council you have before you a request submitted by TSS and the department of corrections jointly for emergency approval to Allowed to positions that were inadvertently placed on the seven ninety six hold list to remain field of these positions were filled prior to the June fifteenth deadline set out in X. seven ninety six they were both field on may thirtieth however based on how the report was ran payroll had ran for those positions yet so they still showed up as they can on the report but they were field before the June fifteenth did deadline and incumbents remained in those positions today. So the original letter that we received I believe it was Tuesday had three positions on it can you explain to me how it how it's now reflecting to positions of one of those positions I will went back and call to my staff and the Department talked to TSS in the administration and we pulled that controller position session down and we're going to leave that one on the whole list okay. Members are there any questions for secretary. C. N. under I have a motion to approve these two positions. No second. Not all those in favor say aye. All opposed ayes have it thank you secretary. With that we'll move on to occupational license review Senator Eads. You're recognized thank you Mr chair the occupational licensing review subcommittee met Thursday July twenty second to prove subcommittee rules occupational entities that will be up for review and a timeline of this review of the subcommittee will begin the process of reviewing the current group of occupational authorizations in September and I move adoption this report. As proper motion I have a second all those in favor say aye. All opposed Is have it. A report is adopted members you would go to the next page we go under H. we have I need a motion for review for the Arkansas teacher retirement system. Motion and a second all those in favor say aye. All oppose ayes have it so with that we'll go to the next page seven B. I need a motion to review the department of state parks. motion and a second all those in favor say aye All opposed eyes have it so with that I'm going to step out order for one second I will go ahead and take a motion to batch the interim studies and move those to the committees in which they're germane to. Do I have a motion to match it to an arm studies mode moved and seconded all those in favor say aye. Oppose ayes have it so with that members ACT four thirteen by the warm wonderful general representative very has says that we have to hear a state of the state from all the secretaries so we schedule those out as of last meeting you guys voted on that schedule so with that I'll call a doctor Romero to the stand and we'll go ahead and start with our four departments today. If you guys would just introduce yourself for the record and you're recognized to start. Don Adams deputy director Arkansas department of health. Sentimental secretary secret Jerry of health state of Arkansas. Leding Mr chairman porting representative senators. so I will present the estate of the department report for the Arkansas department of health. update on divisions so for the center for public health practice health statistics cancer registry the Arkansas central cancer registry or a C. C. R. was designated by the registry as a registry of distinction by the national program of cancer registries of the CDC in March of two thousand twenty one this agency or this area record investigates cancer rates in the state among various populations in determines if they're higher rates of infection in specific areas. In addition the ACC are has perform linkages with individuals who tested positive for COVID nineteen with cancer patients with in the registry database on two occasions once in June of two thousand twenty and again in March of two thousand twenty one the results of these analyses were published and presented at the CDC and published in the Arkansas family physician they also prefer what performed a linkage in June of two thousand twenty one of cancer patients who had received other COVID nineteen vaccine. With regard to the center for local public health local health units. A major change in that area is that uh we have instituted a late day clinic has been and then some this is added to all of their schedules so they can provide better access for the public. In terms of our the health advancement Senator health advance that week we participants now have the the ability to self checkout at Kroger and Walmart stores this was placed put in place and this replaces the traditional check out through the lines of those of you that have use this know that a it really moves things along very quickly are currently only Kroger and Walmart are approved for for this type of week check out this allows also the individuals to use their with allotment as needed throughout the month rather than having to do with total expenditure of that allotment a one time. Turning out to the public health laboratory this is one of the real successes over the last year so act fifty one the two thousand nineteen session required that spinal muscular atrophy be tested for this a congenital condition I was added to the panel screen tests for newborns we currently perform thirty newborn screening tests and will be adding three additional ones are in March of two thousand twenty The laboratory started testing all new one so for this particular diseases condition called spinal muscular atrophy the lab has detected two positives since the test was put into place so it is a success. In terms of the centre for health protection of the Arkansas lifeline call center this is our suicide caught a call one ACT eight eleven of the two thousand seventeen authorized the agency to create a twenty four seven suicide lifeline this is been done we are the only state of the fifty states that has and internally the Department of Health and run a suicide hotline all others a run through of volunteer agencies. in two thousand twenty we took despite the high number of cases of a COVID eleven thousand six hundred and five calls in a fiscal year two thousand twenty one seven thousand eight hundred and seventy calls were made we have a peer assistance these are individuals who are trained specifically to support and we have thirty seven of these individuals at a volunteer over time they spend at least two weeks or longer so again we have moved forward with this and have made it a successful and a project. Churning out of vital records. It the Arkansas department of health is now able to issue birth and death certificates from the local public health units this means that citizens no longer have to travel to to little rock to have the the the documents produced in the given to them so again saves time saves effort saves money for the for the public. In terms of the of mine or sorry maternal mortality review this was created by ACT eight twenty nine of two thousand nineteen the act requires the formal review of maternal deaths in Arkansas to identifying characterize maternal deaths with the goal of identifying opportunities for prevention of these. Cases have been reviewed and updated and data will be available and reported in the two thousand twenty one a legislative report. Now turning ourselves to the governor's challenge to prevent suicide among our service members veterans and the families so um this is an effort that involves the department of Veterans Affairs substance misuse and mental health services administration and it and uh it which is a national endeavor the Arkansas department of health has the accomplished this without use of Sampson from Sam shop funds and is moving forward on this and we hope that this will reduce the S. suicide among military populations. with regard to COVID nineteen a variant testing using the epidemiology and laboratory capacity grant funds the laboratory has purchased the equipment to for next generation COVID nineteen a genomic sequencing of this capacity will ensure timely detection of a new and current a COVID nineteen variants the estimated time for being online for this project is approximately one to two months. Reservation examples one of the significant it serves up some significant examples are eighty H. boards and commissions. Eighty eight continues to provide support for eighteen regulatory boards and five commissions. it received this at a through transformation and even integrated into the Arkansas department of health. German media H. R. I. T. financial services previously provided by each of these agencies individual has is now a compiled and provided with in the eighty H. these entities are following eighty H. is HR and financial policies and procedures. since November twenty twenty the following have been moved to a DH own space the Board of athletic training. Board of acupuncture and related techniques minority health commission additionally five other boards and their satellite offices and moved it to its eighty H. on space this has saved expenses related to leases and rent is also provided hands on individual support to these entities that may be limit that may limit staff Lou the maybe limit on staff excuse me this in turn provides better service to the licensees in the public several boards implemented significant a few reductions in the last year and others are contemplating doing so. the second example in the area of the center for local public health so if loop food establishment plans engineering plants employing plans can now be submitted online this allows for quick goals quicker submittals reviews and approvals. In the last quarter of two thousand twenty one fifty eight percent of plane pound plans were submitted online this year approximately twenty eight percent of of food establishment plans were electronically submitted this rate is one hundred percent greater than in the latter half of two thousand twenty. Engineering electronic submissions now receives their plans electronically Staffan trained on the software program and the processing reviews in conjunction with email and other electronic means means to ensure more efficient and shorter review times the majority of all water plans now are are submitted through these mechanisms. For the center for local public health the might public water system or my PWS uses now Q. R. code system this allows water systems and staff to submit sample information through the app barcode developed in conjunction with the public health laboratory this provides a faster turnaround times of our results. As of June two thousand twenty one there are a one hundred forty seven water systems using the electronic system I was an average turnaround time of just over one day to receive the results of their tests. Lastly a public health laboratory again this is another success story they should be put forward it out testing started in March of last year March second of last year for a COVID nineteen and we have a now increased the public health ability to handle the specimens we step or started with no ability at all as originally all sent to the CDC we now can process thirty five hundred specimens a day collaboration in part with Baptist hospital since March of twenty twenty the laboratory has a process more than five hundred thousand COVID nineteen samples that died this I turn around time is now a within twenty four to thirty six hours before used to take days with regard to fill positions in our staffing there's been a twenty four percent reduction in staffing this in spite of the number of the burden of work that was and placed upon the ADHD during the current COVID pandemic. Legislative initiatives we have a fourteen acts that were a place to all right and five of these were on eighty age requested legislations are those five include ACT five ninety eight hepatitis C. testing for pregnant mothers we're currently drafting and updating these rules we are one of the few states in the nation that will require this. ACT seven oh seven which is EMS data collecting collection work we are working with stakeholders and Review panel ACT two sixty eight the radiation control update we are promulgated rules ACT three forty three cancer registry promulgating rules and Act sixty two evaluation of the PDMP data promulgate rules the remainder of the the additional nine acts are shown in your handouts. With regard to the budget information you have a budget information available to you I will quickly summarize this so the total budget state for the fiscal year twenty twenty was a three hundred forty nine million two hundred and fifty at four hundred and eleven dollars of forty eight Fortuny forty nine percent that was a federal funding seventy percent was other funding a commercial revenue contracts in direct costs a non of federal grants and rebates seventy percent of came from the form of a state the general revenue eight percent special revenue five percent trauma health initiatives. And four percent tobacco settlement funds the FY twenty two budget I'm out including federal COVID nineteen response funding will be more than half a billion dollars and six hundred and seventy four million. Four hundred and eighty eight thousand one hundred and fifty dollars a snapshot of the grants provided to the eighty H. from federal sources during the present pandemic is shown in your handouts a total of thirty five grants were obtained with the cumulative amount of over six hundred that is right six six hundred million dollars we spent as of seven seven twenty one two hundred and three a million seventy nine thousand dollars the eye and then remain to be I spent R. of three hundred and eighty nine million dollars and this completes my report all rules what sorry for getting all Wardlaw expires in the on the six three twenty four and this concludes my report to you I will take questions you have a. There are few questions of the representative Ladyman you're recognized as first question. Thank you Mr chair Dr Meryl my question is the second or third item on your report the week participants can now check out at Kroger and Walmart my question is what about the smaller grocers I mean can they get this benefit what they have to do why are they not already approved. I will turn this over to the mistranslated. John Adams Arkansas department of health so several years back we went to the EBT card instead of issuing checks and vouchers to our participants we went with the electronic card and like Dr Romero was stating earlier what that allows is for participants to spread out using their benefit over the month instead of having to buy it all at once for example that they have benefit of three gallons of milk they previously had by all at once which was not convenient but now all participants can use their card throughout so the Walmart and Kroger has the self checkout lines so they can use that card in those self checkout lines but if they don't have a self checkout line course they can still go through the regular checkout and utilize that card spread out over the month. Does that answer your question. No not really okay I'm so wire just to retailers participating is it is a matter of a hardware that these other smaller companies don't have or is or some of the roadblock to them not being able to participate that's a good question I apologize I don't have the details on why Walmart and Kroger only only once participating I'm sure there's some things that the more links in connected but yes we will definitely get that provides to the chair yes Sir thank you. Senator Hammer you're recognized. Thank you Mr on ACT four twelve regarding the APR independent practice the it states that you're drafting the rules do you know how far. Away it is before the appointments will be made on the on the board for this. So the process has not been started yet it's still in draft and Ardagh American here you wish was working on the dresser we can get you more details as specific as the time line but I don't have that information at this time our I just if you could look and see when the appointments are going to be made as to who's going to be on the board I appreciate knowing what the what the deadline time frame is for that and if you would and the second question is what areas of staffing were reduced that we've gone down to two thousand twenty two did involve for example contact tracers or where federal funds ran out was that the reason for the reduction in the staff and what areas were reduced Mr Adams will give you details on that thank you. The primary reduction of from two thousand and fifteen and two thousand and sixteen we eliminated our in home service program and there were four to five hundred positions associated with that program so that that a lot of it and then we've also had a slow decrease over time since then in particular this last year even though we received a lot of federal money of for COVID response you know we've had some recruitment and retention problems and most of the staff that we've added with our new federal funds for response since its temporary money we've done through contracts and extra help. and that's that's my that's my question is. Of the reduction of staff how many are affiliated with the COVID nineteen pandemic and have they been reduced because the federal funding that was paying their salaries has gone away or just recognition of the situation has calls for the reduction. Senator Hammer none of these staff reductions related to any of the federal COVID response money expiring so all the reductions outside of Kobe so all the covered staffer still in place yes Sir our thank you. If you would the information the representative hand or Hammer requested on rules can you when you email that out just emailed staff and they'll get it to the whole committee thank you of Sir Chesterfield you're recognized yes Mr cheer this is relatively new as having individuals come up to give report after report after report after report I'm wondering what the process is do we move acceptance of the reports. Remove the agenda so we get a will move on the statute says that we have to hear oral report so I cannot batch them. But I don't I'm saying how do we get past this first report we moved to accept it or what we need to do if you want I move to accept a report. As a proper motion to I have a second. All those in favor say aye All opposed eyes eyes have it we we accept the report thank you guys with that I'll bring up the inspector general Secretary Lisbon Smith. Absolutely thank you Mr chair. The the rules that the law says that it has to be an oral report. They did say they had to report on everything was on display. I think you're going to be well pleased with the next presentation. Just trying to understand all right thank you. If you guys would introduce yourself for the record and you're recognized or thank you. Can you hear me this on. Okay hello I'm Elizabeth Smith I'm the secretary for the department of inspector general and I've brought with me here today M. Taney Harrelson who serves as chief counsel and chief of staff and Ricky Kuala mom who is the director of the office of internal audit and IT conforman who serves as the executive director of the fair housing commission. Thank you for letting us to provide this report today as you know the department of inspector general is combined compiled with three entities that I have mentioned in the office of internal audit the Arkansas fair housing commission and the Medicaid inspector general. Members of a would take our discussions back in the back room so members can pay attention to the report being given. Thank you so much so I have for you report today I just I presented on paper under this is an oral report but in order to prepare for today I thought you might like a few bullet points to know what we have been up to and to assist them in providing this information in a timely fashion so I'll just hit the highlights for office of internal audit they have and I have Ricky here to answer any questions or to add if you need but I'm I'm trying to be quick the Tippit typically with the office of internal audit they used to be with then the department of finance and administration and they would perform audits across the state for all state agencies they also conduct the control self assessment and a man is the control self assessment tool so during the past year the corona virus relief and economic security act the cares Act provided at one point two five billion dollars to agencies across the state and the office of internal audit turns their. Work towards reviewing those funds that had been paid out so they have spent of the ten over ten thousand hours of auditing work that they performed over eight thousand of that was geared towards that cares Act so we have conducted a number of those reports and they're listed on your bill appoint if you have any specific questions we can answer those either now or at the end of the the report. Keep going so the next part is related to the Arkansas for housing commission and we're thrilled to have a T. conformance to be our executive director she joined us on may the seventeenth as our new executive director for for housing commission the fair housing commission has been extremely busy they had a case a large backlog and they have reduce that greatly we have a new multi lingual intake specialist that we just hired we have partnered with legal aid to perform training outreach and some compliant legal support we're also working with them to help with and I kind of think of it as secret shoppers we utilize them they call it testing where they will go in and pretend to be a someone who's trying to rent just to kind of test and see what's happening in the communities also where you we had to utilize video conferencing technology so we moved from in person trainings to virtual three zoom and we've continued all the work in in fair housing through that those means the Office of Medicaid inspector general I also serve as the Medicaid inspector general and we have continued our work and throughout so that it was difficult because we could not go in person in medical facilities as you can imagine so we pivoted and have been performing our work remotely through well or simply desk audits we request records and they submit those we have a medical records portal now so they can submit records electronically without having to put them in the mail and mail them to us or hand carry them or we were using an email system so this is a whole lot more efficient and it things are going well we have identified some fraud schemes related to COVID those are listed on on your bullet points wasteful laboratory testing for COVID testing of your prescriptions has have been written without seeing the patient and abuse and use of tele. Health related to various therapies so we're working to tighten them tight the reins on those issues so I guess that's. Quick two minute report if there's any questions for us if you need me to go further president Ladyman you're recognized for a question thank you Mr chairman on the office of internal audit. I just am curious the last bullet there were you Arkansas department of workforce services then find potential fraud thank you all know that's been a really big problem for our state in other states as well I mean is that getting better if you have any information or on that on how this. Proving so I'll let Ricky referred relate to the referred to the specific audience that we've performed but I know they have done a number of things within the Yes so the work that we performed we got access to the P. U. A. claims that were process and perform data analytics and based on those data analytics we push that information back to work for services to hold those accounts and not make anymore payments out of those accounts they work those and the flag does in there you know they've got a huge backlog and and they're working as best they can I cannot attest to where they're at overall scheme working all those and then but less so would it be correct to say that you help make them be more efficient. I would hope so thank you. I see no further questions without objection this report is adopted thank you guys. With that we'll call up secretary Wes ward. No more Sir west for from the Arkansas department of agriculture. So I'll be quick amount overview for for the Arkansas department will try I just want to start by saying just to help proud we or and I hope how prevailed that that's all or of of the team that we have the department of agriculture it's it's reflective of our agriculture industry are state's largest industry twenty one billion dollar economic impact our state every year we've got incredible employees and staff throughout the department that we're court every day to serve the state of Arkansas and our state's largest industry were incredibly bright proud of them I'm proud of the the governor's leadership for for the agriculture industry as well as our partnership with the legislature on accomplishing things that need to be need to be done with that with their culture being or Larson sure there's always a broad range of topics that were working on so I'll start by giving just a quick update on the divisions we have within the Department those those are broken up to be reflective of industry so we have a forestry division livestock and poultry plant industries natural resources and then also shared services division that they work for the entire department regarding forestry how we spend a lot of time working on responding to wildfires prescribed burns force management plans we've actually got a of about five employees right now their help to helping to work on fires out west would it help them with their situation out there I'm proud to have Joe fox serving as president of the national association of state foresters a great team within our forestry division also compulsory as you might imagine deals with five star compulsory issues the the number one priority there's dealing with the animal disease prevention and response I was working with things like avian influenza to prevent that put mail disease African swine fever I things of those nature also deal a lot with feral hogs fairs and and things of that nature anything animal related or last second poultry division works with all the natural resources side a lot of work on water and wastewater projects unpaved roads deal with correct critical groundwater issues that that you all are aware of as well support to the conservation districts throughout the state of Arkansas. on the plant industries division side another topic that the that you are familiar with from recent committee meetings is the the campus situation that's a you're requiring a lot of time as as of this morning we've had three hundred twenty two I came to complaints of it been filed this year they also spent a lot of time working with other pesticide issues feed fertilizer seed anything or on the planet side row crops out of agriculture they're they're very heavily involved in that industry is growing in Arkansas and we're we're happy to write grading services for that looking at the Department some of or a significant projects we've been involved with the governor's levy task force in response to the two thousand nineteen Arkansas River flooding the governor's economic recovery task force and probably are our largest your your big big project that we're working on right now is the American rescue plan which is a chair by secretary Walter at Department financing ministration we're we're participating in that committee and and also on the governor's working group for water and other infrastructure projects so that's an incredibly important for agriculture of the four state as a whole so looking at water wastewater projects irrigation projects stormwater your flood mitigation levies drainage all those sort of things that that the state as a whole deals with it seems like every year response to significant events that that impact our state other things that were working on I just want to highlight that shared services or transformation effort you know we we have it's not a new project for us since day one of the governor's leadership we've been we've been working very hard to get the and get the department to be reflective of of the industry's needs and working together as one team we're we're certainly proud to present this report today to you and and this quick synopsis in the mandate that you have but also want want to note that under the others leadership we've we've been talking together an annual report for the department really since two thousand eighteen a full comprehensive list. Of our programs and accomplishments across the department we should have or or most recent report done in October so we would be more than happy to provide that to each of you and walk through and if there's as needed we spent a lot of time I reducing costs with reduced about five hundred eleven thousand dollars and and expenses and we're we're working on a broad range of legislative initiatives and we're proud to work on theirs and in partnership with the industry and with each of you as we support our state support agriculture in stream with that Mister chairman I'll be happy to answer any questions there's quite a few representive Payton you're recognized. Thank you Mr Mister ward I've heard that maybe we have a greater than normal armyworm infestation getting fired up and I was wondering if you give us any information regarding that. Yes Sir and and we uh we've been made aware of that this week and so we're we're actually you know as of yesterday were working on a section eighteen requested the EPA that would allow some different pesticide product products be able to use on our warms but that that's a I will just come in to say that it's it's significant it was been several articles recently and looks to be a pretty substantial impact for for all of Arkansas but row crop industry livestock at this well and we're working on a request to get some additional products for those are doing with that thank you if I could follow up do you have any geographical information on what seems to be the most effect I could give that have occurred yes Sir I I could get that information for yep I've heard the Eastern Arkansas northeast Arkansas I think it's seems to be pretty broad spread but I'll be happy to get a map and that outlines where the problem is Mr chairman I can have one more short questions you can in any information requested by members please send the staff's or sent out to the whole committee because there's a lot of people interested and all the different subjects you're recognized represent paid so on the grain dealer licensing of we created a hot line for complaints on late pay have you had any calls to the hotline in the House investigation going into that for my perspective Sir I think that it's going well we've had a I think that the grain dealer law itself is pass in two thousand fifteen legislative session. A broad industry support amid the hotline which we think is working we've we've had a small number of inches that hasn't been a large number of calls to that but we we have had a few and when we get those we take those very seriously and responded with we but we've done some kind of stop orders on on some of the calls we receive so when we get that information a complaint to to avoid what the state was in with the two thousand fourteen time frame with that particular instance events when we get there is we we do some sort of a stop order to stop everything we go when we look at the books make sure everything is is where it's supposed to be and work to resolve those as quickly as we can but but thankfully the the number of calls in complaints we received on that have been pretty pretty minimal okay do you think we've we've got the people educated on the existence of the hotline and and that there is a number I do yes Sir huh and and it's a in response to to legislative members to act organizations across state farm bureau I'd counsel and others that that have helped to make people aware of it thank you thank you Mr. President of Ladyman you're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman of secretary ward thank you for this report then the details that allow like that but my question in this is really for other departments as well but you're the one in the hot seat right now so I'll ask you but you mentioned we had individuals that are out helping with the wildfires I think that's great that we help other states and they help us in response but my question is and I've had other people ask me this you know we have people down at the border right now as well so how is that funded is that through the governor's office I mean do we use our own funds to other states pays backers of federal money or does that vary that's a great question Sir so so with the five individuals that we have out west right now I think we've got for Montana and one and working for three months into an organ so how that works with or forestry personnel they they respond to wildfires across the state frequently to do a lot of training they get certifications and and a lot of different areas in regard to wildfire response as well as emergency management so when these your a lot of certification to the US for service so they've made game that over time when the sort of western wildfires happen of US for service or the respective state will will put out a request for certain criteria storms lawyers who have that meet that criteria we work with our state forester Joe fox and essentially they take leave so the state isn't isn't paying for them today what they've they're trained they're qualified to go through to be an employee of the state of Arkansas but when they go they take we've been there paid by the US for service when they're out there we we never sent anyone unless we got that there to passing capability to do that so for council was I was having a wall a high wall per year we we would keep them here and and ask them not to do but they do take personal leave that's one side of it we did receive a request yesterday from Montana that went through the division of emergency management asking for assistance. and so you know that would be one where they're asking the state formally and so we would have to work through those details if Montana or the US for service would be paying for personnel or equipment to go out there we do have contacts of southern compact were southern states could request our assistance and it would be the the state that's requesting it would pay for the services thank you. Thank you senator just feels I move the acceptance of the report has proper motion drive second. A discussion on that motion. Senator Hammer you had discussions. Thank you Mr. I think every time is here's equally valuable but I think these reports are serving a purpose if you have members that are still a huge thank you to give them up to to ask a few quick questions thank you. Okay proper discussion all those in favor of the motion to adopt reports say aye. All opposed no. Noes have it. So therefore we will continue our questions Senator Hammer you're recognized for a question thank you Mr chair on the feral hog you say that the report shows three point four million federal grant. Are there additional state dollars that should be included in that to get a true cost of what we put into the feral whole hog program since its inception so there there's not from the department of agriculture we could we could get the broader total which would would mostly include game and fish commission employees in their time regarding frogs the department of culture specifically we we have a a feral hog coordinator that's administering that grant we we use that position as a match to get that federal funding so that's that's the the make up of of the amount of budget or or funding that's going for for hogs within the Department the federal task force and includes other state agencies parks heritage and tourism would be another one that has staff working on that date let me interrupt you for the second time if you get the total dollar invested so far federal and state because that came up in the meeting last week down hot springs and I don't think there was an answer to the questions first how much per pound are we paying to read Kate hall because I think that was a fair question if you can get that so we can follow up on that and then the number of employees has increased from twenty to twenty one how many of those employees that are represented at number in the increase are a hundred percent federally funded employees or they adjust positions that were filled okay I don't have the the personal number in front of me but I can and that's where you are if you get that please and if I can have less questions Mr The over there on natural resource divisions it says the divisions provide state level playing management for ground water resources I'm thinking of a project over in the delta round the Stuttgart area over in Arkansas county and where they're trying to you know pipe in the water and put it into the lounge large ground reservoirs is that one of those two projects and what is the department doing to help expedite that so that that project can move forward I think there's a pretty hefty price tag with the but what's the attitude to the position of the Department toward that project and trying to get funding to that project. Excellent question Sir I would say the addition projects and the critical glare groundwater decline is that one of our top priorities for the department the governor designated where when she was still working for for him make emergency evacuation at the time to really your spear head and there's those efforts to expedite and move this project forward as much as possible I know those are a priority for the governor's well he's he's personally met with the corps of engineers of irrigation districts and others to help advance that you see submitted letters to to Congress and others asking for additional support so it's a priority for us working really hard hard on there said that the project that you mentioned is is one of theirs two larger irrigation projects to address the critical groundwater declined and so we're we're we're we're really fortunate as far as we can and we're also hoping that potentially some of the American rescue plan funding can be used to or so as long as well well that's what I want to know are you are you put in a request of the of America whatever the new nerve term for his or your question money out of that to help on those projects over there we we will be working on that proposal now but that's that's our plan is to to try to get some additional funding assistance through American right all right thank you that Mr. Senator hill you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr. Secretary will discount expand a little what does senator Hammer as just in the question the other day is for the peril halts Bill all the different groups to get a total number of all. Hogs that have been trapped or Medicaid out of each different agency your tell number total dollars plus numbers we see what it's actually costing us on on that aspect whether it be from your group for from gaining Fisher or whomever yeah okay greatly appreciated yes Sir we will we'll work on that and and have that prepared for the unexpected and they actually House last question based off of a calendar year address just as we are okay thank you Sir yes or. The without objection this report will be adopted. Thank you of secretary of ward for that will bring up Secretary hers for the Department of Parks heritage and tourism. You guys would introduce yourself for the record and you're recognized give your report. I'm Stacy her secretary of the Arkansas department of parks heritage and tourism. And the the map I'm the CFO for department of parks heritage and tourism. Good morning I'm Leslie Fisk and I'm chief of legislative affairs for parks heritage and tourism. I'll get started with a brief report you all have our template and I'm happy to provide you my my full narrative after this meeting I want to touch on starting with Division updates the mosaic Templars cultural center achieved accreditation by the American alliance of museums mosaic Templars is just the third black history institution in the south and one of only nine black history museums in the country to achieve accreditation so as a historic milestone also within the Division of heritage our main street program which is located in thirty nine communities across the state continues to have a significant impact twenty twenty eight showed a gain of a net gain of thirty three businesses within mainstreet districts three hundred and twenty two jobs and over sixty six million in private funds invested. The Arkansas natural heritage commission which is a part of heritage. Recently acquired Blue Mountain it is the third of the three pinnacles and western Pulaski County and these pinnacles provide great outdoor access and it's a sister mountain to pinnacle mountain and two rattlesnake ridge so this will increase public access and opportunities for outdoor recreation. Our second main division is Arkansas state parks and the pandemic had a significant impact on our state park system for our staff and our visitors what we're gonna do some operation within state parks I'm proud to say that we never close the system entirely some of our abiding states did in fact closer systems including Texas Tennessee and Louisiana we began during the pandemic to do a better job of collecting data on visitation and that helped guide our efforts we still use that data dashboard today and that informs our efforts for example on. Visitation directing employment staffing and operations to date during this fiscal I'm sorry during the calendar year in the first seven months we have recorded already over five million visitors to our Arkansas state parks. Later this afternoon we will hold a media event and ceremonial transfer of keys to the lake still be a recreation area as you all know that is part of the US Forest Service I property they have unfortunately had to close it for at least part of the year and so this partnership with Arkansas state parks will allow the lake still be a recreation area to be open all year round it's a big win for public access and we will operated as a satellite and pinnacle mountain state park. We extended our agreement with the university of Arkansas to play at war Memorial Stadium as you all know that includes a match up with Arkansas state university which will be scheduled for twenty twenty five. And now to our Arkansas tourism division at tourism is the second largest economic sector in the state of Arkansas generating seven point five billion dollars and representing roughly seventy thousand jobs the pandemic did have a significant negative impact on the travel industry are two percent collections were were down but not as badly as we originally predicted for twenty twenty they'll be down about twenty percent for twenty one we're looking at about five percent down what has kept our numbers somewhat strong is leisure travel in Arkansas. We are seeing right now a very strong rebound in tourism for March we saw an increase of fourteen point six percent over the twenty nineteen numbers the pre pandemic numbers so at the travel industry is rebounding nicely. We also operate through terrorism thirteen welcome centers across Arkansas that is a partnership with the Arkansas department of trance transportation we're seeing robust visitation there our account in June exceeded eight hundred and twenty thousand visitors. Jumping to shared services we have combined and finalized organizational structures within human resources communications I. T. fiscal procurement and legal. This provides a consistent policy messaging and we benefit from expertise across the the entire department. As regards cares Act grant programs we executed three programs within the Department of Parks heritage and tourism first of all was a business interruption grant which is a fifty million dollar grant program we received three thousand one hundred and eighteen completed applications to that program of those two thousand one hundred and thirty seven were deemed eligible and forty eight million dollars was distributed based on a formula that included eligible claims and economic injury. We also distributed grants to. Advertising and promotion commissions and convention and visitors bureaus and to arts organizations across the state. Just a quick mention of a significant project within the department the governor recently announced the creation of an office of outdoor recreation that office will work to grow skews me the outdoor industry in the state create better communication between state government agencies federal partners non profits and other stakeholders. As regards the American rescue plan we are working on several projects one of them is to increase connectivity and our state parks and welcome centers. A quick example of transformation when's our efficiencies beginning in fiscal year twenty seven at Arkansas heritage and cents twenty and the new department of parks heritage and tourism we have been working to save state general revenue and turn it back to state coffers when possible internally this means being intentional in our use of special revenues that were entrusted with that's creating less reliance on G. R.. Our department's total term back in fiscal year twenty was one point eight almost one point nine million and in fiscal year twenty one three million plus and that included category D. funding. I'm right now we are implementing legislative initiatives that were passed in the last session one that has had particular interest is the cultural institutions trust fund we're working on the rules now and we are already implementing dynamic pricing within state parks and excited about that. That completes my report I'm happy to answer any questions. Senator Hammer you have a question thank you. Thank you Mr how many of the welcome centers are open today of the thirteen we have they're all open senator the one going down to hot springs is that one of the thirteen because it was closed last week is that. Is that a welcome center travel center and I'll have to check on that Senator all the welcome centers are open okay all right what's the difference between the welcome center in the trial well and the department of transportation also operates I don't I'm not sure what they call in but they're like rest areas and okay that's under DOT yes Sir okay and then the second question and maybe you referenced shall know the the report put out by Director span are you able to answer questions on that one I'll try if I can I'll get you an answer all right I'm just warning about the there there seems to be of a shift between twenty twenty one and twenty two as far as how the money plays out at which where's that money come from is it revenue generated that creating the disparity in the numbers for the shift in the numbers or can you give me a quick explanation of that. Because some of them had some pretty large ships especially park central service and twenty which one point eight million and now it twenty two it's over three million some I wondered how do you account for the shifting of the numbers and you're looking at the general revenue comparison I'm looking at our hand out H.. Seven B.. Arkansas state parks general revenue comparison is that under your Division my mistaken that is that is the State Parks allocation of its general revenue that they spend and all of the General revenue is spent on salaries in state parks and so this allocation is just a reflection of their staffing requirements in those parks for the different levels and how how they need to allocate all of the G. R. is being just for payment of staff okay what is park central office. Our central offices than the the employees that are here located here essentially in our our staff here at headquarters it would be like the part director's office and the staff that are here and in the little rock area. In what why the increase in two years from one point eight million to over three million. Senator I think we probably need to research that and let you know I'd like the answer to that and I'll do a follow up with I just like to know why the ship because it seems like there are some they're gaining there some that are losing and some of these are prominent parks and I just like to know the rationale behind the the logic of the shift to the numbers please yes Sir thank you. Representative Springer you're recognized. Thank you thank you Mr chair good morning of. Yes could you provide to the committee a breakdown do you have a chart that you've completed regarding the business grants that were awarded to say that you had three thousand one hundred eighteen completed and there were two thousand one hundred and thirty seven eligible you paid out to forty million dollars so if you could please share with us a break down of bills please. Yes ma'am we can we have that data and we can share that. Thank you representive wouldn't you're recognized. Thank you. Madam secretary several months ago you made a. Report to us in the report there was information were contracts and then I guess for a better word illegally awarded to employees of your department at that time we ask you to have recovered the money and you said it was complicated where where do we stand on that today and have those employees been dealt with has that money been re coop for the study and why why did we sign the contracts with state employees. Representative when we provided the full accounting of that at the time to the entire legislature in response to your questions and It It I think it was explained the whole situation which was in fact complicated that was several years ago at historic Arkansas museum we did respond to legislative audit on that the there were contracts they were They should have been categorized as employees at the time and this Praet predates twenty fifteen so before my arrival at heritage they were working on a contract for the Arkansas made project the Arkansas made project took longer than anticipated and some of the money was coming from the left bird Trust in fact I think the entire contract was paid by the love or trust which is private money but it was it went through the state's coffers so it was essentially encumbered by the state so. What it was paid through the state but it was actually private money so we have not recovered that those funds we have gone through the process examined it and now we have eliminated that process we do not hire. People on contract now to do long term projects. Follow the. If if we. Even though it's private money. Is designated and handled by your agency so we have the responsibility I think to be good stewards and I can understand that the lady in attempting to recoup the money whether it's private or state money we're we're responsible for that your agencies responsible for that what efforts have been made to collect that money yes so the decision was made not to collect that money as I mentioned it was funded through the left trust which is a aboard we have been in consultation with them the situation predates may representative Wooten both when I realized what was going on we did address it and we do not follow that practice anymore. One more follow up we're missing the point has why hasn't that money been collected back the decision was made not to collect the money to collect the money that's correct. Thank you thank you. Mr chairman. Without objection representive Eubanks you have a question. I do thank you Mr secretary Hearst's couple. Sessions back we passed a wind bill and included in that was a wine tourism center that was supposed to be constructed in I think in the Franklin County Altice Ozark area what is the status of that. The funds that were originally collected went to at the time parks and tourism those funds now go to the department of commerce as I understand it Cynthia has the history on that. And I and I am I because it's no longer within the Department of Parks heritage and tourism I'm not aware of and what the status of that project is thank you it actually resides in the commerce now thank you very much. So without objection is report stands reviewed. Of with that members we have no further business we stand adjourned.