ALC-PEER

Members of you begin take your seats will call this meeting to order. Call this. This meeting to order US senators man you have any comments okay the members we have a supplemental calendar so the first order of business is I'm going to have to have a motion to suspend the rules. I have a motion second all in favor say aye. It It posed may. Motion is adopted. Next item. The miss your the first section on the agenda are various temporary appropriation request this is in section B.. Is requesting agencies to increase their speed at thirty above what is authorized in the appropriation bill enacted after the last session there is a pre appropriation requests require approval by L. C.. the first item that you're the only item on the agenda in the section is letter from the administrative office of the courts this is requesting crease appropriation by four hundred forty thousand the letter says is paying thirty ACT chaotic ACT fifty eight of twenty one this new law transfer the accountability court fund from community correction to the administrative office of the courts the firm provides resources for adult and juvenile specialty court programs such as drug courts DWI courts and veterans treatment specially court programs I spoke with the agency and learned that the programs are funded by two point eight million dollar transfer from the rainy day fund that was back in two thousand fifteen the for your forty thousand is being requested is the balance that remains from that initial funding. Members are there any questions on this item. If not I need a motion to adopt to approve it. I have a motion and a second all those in favor say aye. Motion passes per. Thank you Mr on the next section is the section C. cares appropriation increase request. These request by agencies to increase the preparation to spend funds related to the cares Act which the federal program that provides direct economic assistance response COVID nineteen. C. one is a letter from the department transformation shared services and this for the Division of information systems it's request increase appropriation by eight hundred and twenty nine thousand spending forty will allow the division to reimburse expenditures made in response to the pandemic the next item C. two is a letter from the department of finance and administration disbursing officer it's request to increase appropriation by three hundred fifty thousand Senator is needed to make payments to C. T. H. for us I'm sorry for fees associated with grants management for the business interruption grant program. The next item on the last item C. three is for the department of public safety it's request increase their preparation by six hundred ninety nine thousand spanning thirty will be used to update an online licensing system for the state police and provide enhancements to a benefits system for the crime victims reparations Board sure these are all the questions the section. Members are there any questions on any of these three items. C. N. nine is there a motion to approve these at this item. I have a motion and a second all those in favor say aye. Opposed nay. Motion passes. Thank you Mr the next section is section the these are American rescue plan request of the American rescue plan act is a federal relief package passed in March of this year that has a lot at one point five seven billion for state government in Arkansas a new appropriation category and special language was enacted in the last session require state entities to request new spending authority to spend federal America rescue plan funds request require prior approval by in C. they are thirty two requests for permission on today's agenda all for institutions of higher education in each request follows a similar pattern based on the allowable use the funds by law the total amount request is a hundred eighty eight million records AS part of education half of the funding is to be used by each college provide direct relief to students to emergency financial aid the remainder maybe use for institutional purposes such as retention and re engagement students examples of this would be academic and mental health services discharging student debts accrued independent during the pandemics whose career role other uses are prevent and mitigate this medical nineteen an example that be screening testing vaccination activities and per in purchasing the personal protective equipment. And schools can also use the essential portion of their funds to cover things like lost revenue reimbursement for expenses already incurred technology costs associated with transition to distance education trainings payroll average financial aid applicants in minor remodeling for purposes of preventing the spread COVID nineteen example that you'll see in some of the requests is H. vaccination once on room dividers allocations to institutions are based on a formula that includes relative shares of federal Pell grant recipients you they have a large request at forty two million on today's agenda Arkansas tech you see a northwest Arkansas community college you are as a U. N. UPB each request between ten and twelve million. The rest ranges in plastics eight million and As You mid south two hundred twenty four thousand dollar request Mister chair I have all the page numbers for each item if the member wants to focus on a specific entry. Members. Does anyone have any particular questions with regard to any one of these institutions. Senator Hickey recognized a yes Sir I think we're going to we're going to pull out to the seven is that the correct one. We discussed so we're gonna pull up Arkansas tech for a separate vote just discussion discussion with them I want to be that separate yes Sir okay. Discussion a separate vote. Are there any questions with regard to any of the other institutions. If not I have take a motion to adopt to approve the The rest of these institutions with the exception of Arkansas Tax. I have a motion and a second all those in favor say aye. Opposed nay motions adopted. Is there anyone here from Arkansas tech can come to the table. Good morning my name is Thomas Pennington on the university council Arkansas tech university Senator Hickey you're recognized thank you Mr Clinton of course United spoke briefly before a before this meeting in you know kind of what I was going to ask you if you don't mind I'd like to get for you to give the Committee an overview of what transpired and and kind of where we're at. Yes Sir thank you Senator Hickey. The Arkansas tech university or received of the American rescue plan grant in the amount of approximately twenty two million dollars Because I was familiar with the previous grants I'm the principal investigator for anyway and what that means is I'm the contact with Washington if you will about the grand and know of a lot about the rules so that's the reason I'm before you today. With the American rescue plan funds. Most of the institutions received them. approximately may twelfth in under the federal rules we have to spend that money we have to at least draw down some of that money from what they call the G. five by August tenth or we lose potentially the twenty two million dollars. One of the things that I did is the principal investigator was. Rush and we were here last month with a one point one million dollar request to use the American rescue plan funds to distribute as emergency grant to students. The American rescue plan funds come to us in two buckets there's what they call the student funds bucket they can only be spent for students and there is an institutional funds bucket. That can only be spent on institutionalized or student items. That was the reason for the one point one million dollar request is one million dollars. Would come out the student's side for the students one hundred thousand dollars would come out of the institutional side for the students. And we were successful we had a good meeting last month and you know detail to the committee we have an application process where the students apply for the funds in. The I will put a pin in that stop right there prior to that meeting last month the meeting of this committee. And after may twelfth. Of the Arkansas department of finance administration had a call with all of the institutions of higher ed I don't know if other state agencies were on there not but but higher it was on there and they detailed the procedure for drawing down that money. So first we come to peer then it goes to I guess ALC and then the way the process was supposed to work I believe and I'm speaking from memory is that. We would incur the expense so have the money ready to go. Wire it to the FNA the affidavit would turn around and wire it back to us and the reason for the wiring is that there been three groups of federal money there's been the carers money there's been what they call the Christian money and then there's been the American rescue plan money. Those first two big allotments of federal funds Well I'm I'm guessing here but I think that they were entities that were pulling down funds and not paying their bills so all that to say with the American rescue plan if an entity whether it's with any entity or school at the and institution of higher ed whatever. When you use the institutional funds you've got to spend it within three days of incurring expense under the rules same thing on the student side with about that bucket of money which you have fifteen days and so that was the reason that the FNA had set up the wiring process. It's my understanding that the applications what will the student funds were ready to be sent out. And they were sent out. Without what we do is put state to and from step one. We sent the funds out to the students. And then we were going to draw down the funds from G. five. What should have happened is that we get the money ready to go out to the students. Then we wired the fun we pull down from G. five send it to the FNA DF a since it back to us and then we release the money to the students so there's been no misappropriation of funds the funds when exactly where they were supposed to go but we. At Arkansas tech. Did not follow the D. F. in a process that have been set out. and into that I apologize to the committee I I would caution all the other state agencies follow the D. F. and a procedure exactly DO not very one daughter chi or daughter or tittle I think this is. This would this was. There was no malice there there was no misappropriation of funds. It in with that I'd be happy to entertain any questions from from the Committee just just once okay Mister okay okay so. Just to just to kind of summarize for the committee what we passed a state law in these rescue funds that requires you ought to come before us with detailed plan on how on how you're going to spend the money and it also requires the FNA that they have to report back after the money is spent you know to give us a report on where it went and so that process is what is what was by passed because it has to go to the FNA. And then the FNA is supposed to send it back in that so that they can comply with state law. I with what they're supposed to do who whose decision was it to do this. It It. Senator Hickey I believe that this was. a decision made by our controller but again I I would emphasize that there was no malice. I truly believe that it was in a rush to get the funds out to the students on a Friday was whatever you say malice wasn't intentional did they know about it did they know what they were supposed to do. I can attest that. I believe the comptroller attended that D. F. and a zoom meeting. If I had to speculate the way we've handled grant funds in the past has been on a reimbursement basis and I I truly believe that. They just fell into that process instead of this new process for the American rescue plan funds but the comptroller did attend the meeting as far as the process the way it was supposed to be doing with the FNA it is my understanding we had multiple. attendees I I was on the call for example other people from from the finance administration were on the call I'm. I guess I guess my issue I mean if it truly was a mistake it truly was a mistake if it was intentional that's a little bit different and you know the other the other part is we have all these other institution sitting out here today and I will what we can just do the same thing so what would you what would you suggest allow me with the position that you all put us in you know and basically you know I say I see it as a violation of state law I know you're sitting down there saying it's procedure would you know if the different As required to do this and that's our policy then you know and that's the procedure that we set up in this way it needs to be done because you know this state doesn't operate and less you know we all follow those so whether we like or not That's what has to be done for all this to work in you know this legislature which elected by this. Body of citizens out here in this state you know whether or not some of you all agree with the way that's done or not not agree with the way it's done. That is we are there elected officials and that's the way is it has to has to work so anyway I guess my last question be is I mean how what do you suggest we do in a situation like this. Thank you Mr. Senator Hickey I would I would apologize to the Committee It I can tell you that and as evidence of good faith. The very shortly and I'm I'm making these dates that but I think it's pretty close on Friday they they sent the checks out. And then on Monday or very shortly thereafter I believe that the university reached out to the department of finance administration and they realized the gravity of their mistake it was there was no intent to hide or consciously violate of the rules. And if you ask me for a solution. I guess what I would submit to the committee is that. We were first we were the first hired institution to try and draw down money in and we messed up and and I'm here to to the knowledge that error in not asked that the university not be punished for for this isolated mistake and that. In the future I would pledge to you that. We would of. Go forth and sin no more And I don't say that lightly I just I'm I'm asking for the the mercy of the committee. It was we just we got the car ahead of the horse or. Senate just feel you're recognized for a question thank you Mr ultimately who is going to be heard. I appreciate. I can only do so much. After I pushed in pool that's all I can do ultimately who is going to be hurt by this money to go specifically to our students and Arkansas tech. It yes ma'am. And so with the era of twelve thousand six hundred fifty dollars is that the error we're talking about. What is what is the error in no ma'am that there was the the one point one million that was approved by the last sign here I guess I need to know what Pitsch wrong but I'm trying to figure out how do we get to the help that our students need in spite of the era that the administration made and I'd be happy to hear some suggestions from the FNA or from someone as to how children are not punished for the mistakes of the adults. Is there some solution Robert Moore here Mister chair do you have direct or does that year have the solution. The chair doesn't have a solution I was hoping Senator Hickey had the solution here. Well through the chair to Senator Hickey but I'd like to have been given a as well on what now what happened to those funds now that the process has been violated. Does the money go back to the state does and what happens to the money. Judiciary Senator Hickey says Robert isn't jumping up to answer senator Chesterfield inlet staff okay try to address that all right thank you. Robert break from the faith in these questions a little more detailed. No matter how long you trespass in that year. It's come in that in the interim I don't know if this is helpful or not but I believe that that we spent university funds that have been approved by the appropriation last month what we're doing is asking to reimburse ourselves from those federal funds into be quite candid with the committee the biggest thing for me is that we the reason we went first was to make sure that we were able to draw down at least some of those funds. Hired August tenth because if we fail to do that then we potentially lose the twenty two million dollars and so we we were in a hurry. I I just I know what the problem is. I am a person who believes in dealing with the solution to the problem is there a proposed solution. James already beat me up because you messed up excuse me Senator Hickey. As I already beat me up because you messed up which is appropriate but I need to know how do we get to the best solution for this problem. Melanie please enter five yourself for the for the record yes Sir Melanie I slept with the Department finance and administration and we will follow the process just in reverse we will ask them to go ahead and send those funds to the state treasury and then we will return those funds to them it will be backwards but the appropriation will be used and it will be reported that's what I need to know Robin wanna say that. I'm happy to say Robert Breck off the state budget happy to say that wasn't in the budget section that would have been accounting section saying that off so we do have something in mind as to rectify the situation yes ma'am and the students have already received the money so there was no pain felt by the students at all they did issue those payments they did it in advance of sending the money to the state treasury to use the appropriation it was not the correct process but it can be rectified Justin backwards order which means the money was spent before appropriation which use which is not correct but we will we will see that that happens all right thank you thank you so very much and thank you Senator Hickey. Are there any other questions. Senator Hickey would do you prefer that this be held till Friday for a vote for the. Separately or. You need additional information. You're recognized yes Sir I would like I would like to wait till Friday for us to vote on it let's just to let it cool Business thank on this little while longer. Is a few more days. There there's no need to vote on that we're just going to hole that item until Friday for a full vote of council. Senator Stubblefield you have a question yesterday thank you Mr chairman. Mr Pennington whether whether this was done accidentally or intentionally which I I'm I'm not saying it was not following the legal process that was laid out by the legislature how would doing this. Of this way it would not have benefited the university in any shape form or fashion is that correct. That that is correct Sir I do we we regret that we receive no advantage from doing it this way. Absolutely no advantage at all. No Sir other than we got the funds out to the students without. Following the PDF in a process and DFA's concur with that. Yes Sir employees understand my understanding is also that they used institution funds to make these payments I have not drawn the are permanent yet they have not drawn the federal money. Thank you Mr chairman. I see no other questions were moving on to the next item thank you. You can be excused yes thank you. Thank you Mr rose section email this is the restrict reserve fund transfer recommendation. At ten fifty eight in the past session establish what monies would be available in the restrict reserve fund for the new biennium. Apart to legal one hundred thirty three point five million was set aside for executive recommended projects require the approval of three fifths avail C. according to the L. C. rules appears to subcommittee will take action on whether to approve these requests and final approval for male C. on file required three fifths of a quorum present council there is one question today's Jennifer UAMS. The letters easy one. This is request received one hundred thousand for rule medical practice student loans and scholarships and twenty four thousand a hundred twenty four four community match student loans and scholarships according to the letter the transfer will fund these programs up to their annual preparation amount of four hundred fifty thousand sure that's the only question today's agenda. Any questions with regard to this item. Is there a motion I have a motion to adopt second all those in favor say aye. All those opposed. Motion carries. Next item thank you Mr now will go to the supplemental agenda for an appropriation and or fund transfer requests. This agenda separate from the regular agenda packet. There's only one item its request to transfer funds for the Arkansas department of transportation. On the fourth page there is a letter from the governor recommended transfer of nine point four million to the department for state match to draw down I'm sorry to draw down available federal aid the funds come from interest earnings in the treasury securities reserve fund and is part of the funding package of the Arkansas how we plan two thousand sixteen and that was to produce fifty million and fifty million annual for the department for state matching purposes after recommendation from the governor the transfer requires approval of A. L. C.. Members are there any questions. Seeing none do I have a motion I have a motion and a second to adopt this issue all those in favor say aye opposed nay motion is adopted. Thank you Mr chairman section F. now these begin the items for review. A section F. as a cash fund appropriation increase request these request agencies to increase is being thirty four line items are supported by cash fund example those funds the permit license fees receipts from sales tuition and other revenue agencies collect does not that does not come from a general special tax request for probation only agencies have sufficient existing funding to carry out the request F. one is a letter from the department of health this request is to increase preparation by nineteen thousand for the board of examiners and counseling The New spent thirty allow the board to purchase a new licensing system and replace the server according to the letter the upgrades will put all the user interface is online and the board supported by license applications rental fees I'm sure that's the only request. Seeing no questions without objection this item is reviewed. Thank you Mr next section section G. these are miscellaneous federal grant requests. These request agencies to increase spending thirty of federal funds resulting from an unanticipated federal grant award all but the last item on today's agenda for divisions within the Department Human Services the first items for teaches county operations it's requests for seventeen million forty forty nine thousand appropriation to spend federal funds they have a grant from HUD for the emergency solutions grant program to prevent prepare for and respond to pandemic among the homeless is items hundreds of fairly funded. Next item is G. two also for county operations it's request for one point three million appropriation we have another grant from hud that is also for the emergency solutions grants program this portion committees to renovate rehabilitate and convert small buildings for emergency sale for emergency shelters for the homeless and it's also Hendren and fairly funded. The next item G. three is again County operations it's request for seven hundred thirty five thousand they have a grants provide employment and training through the snap program it's a hundred to fairly funded. Next item G. for county operations request for a hundred and thirty eight thousand this is a grant to provide outreach services to seniors in areas identified as low snap participation it's a hundred percent fairly funded. Next item G. five county operations it's a request for eight hundred forty one thousand and this is the grant to offset the costs associated with snappy ministration this item again as hundreds of fairly funded. The next item is G. six again for county operations it's a request for six hundred eighty five thousand an appropriation to spend federal funds they have agreed to increase the likelihood that snap participants will make healthy food choices and this item is one hundred and fairly funded. Next item G. seven county operations its aggressive requests for nine million in appropriation they have a community services block grant to help prevent permit prepare for and respond corona virus is one percent fairly funded. The next item G. eight is in county operations it's request for one hundred thousand appropriation this is another community services block grant to address disaster recovery in areas declared as a disaster by the president it's one hundred and federally funded. Next item G. nine a county operations request for nine point two million in appropriation again another community services block grant to address poverty at the level that this item is under the federally funded. Next item is for the teachers child care and early childhood education division it's request for fifty nine million in appropriations been federal funds they have a grant to serve the families of essential workers with child care and early childhood services this item is one hundred and fairly funded. The next item G. eleven is for DHS aging adult and behavioral health its request for a hundred eighty one thousand. Integrante do testing and certification for the divisions in fictions peer program answer merges program with the mental health program is items under centrally funded. The next item is for the part of education this is G. twelve it's for Arkansas State Library it's request for twenty thousand they have a grants response across of ours which includes expanding digital network access purchasing internet accessible devices and provide technical support services and is items also one hundred and fairly funded Mr those are all the requests on today's agenda. Who's MCAT Senator English you're recognized for a question. Thank you I'd like to go back to G. three. Is there anybody here from our name and services. Please identify yourself and you're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman mark white with IBM services and we was Franklin's going to join as well. Good morning Mary Franklin director of the division of county operations for DHS. Thank you I'm not I'm assuming that you have some written plan. For this I'm I'm up here. Hi some written plan for how you're going to provide this training. And that's something I'd like to see is what is that written plan how we can use those seven hundred fifty three thousand dollars who's going to go to and exactly what you gonna do what kind of training and help you're going to give those folks. Yes ma'am we do have a we do have a. Snap employment and training plan approved by the food and nutrition services and who provides the funding and we provide those services through providers that we either contract with their sub grant to to provide employment opportunity training skills. In mid level fields increase in education all designed to help snap recipients increase their earning potential and increase their financial stability so I'd like to see what that looks like what that what what does that include what kind of training are you gonna be or education are you going to be and and some of the outcomes because I know that's been going on for a while so one of the outcomes yes ma'am we can provide you that thank you. Senate bill you're recognized for a question. Thank you representing Eubanks up could you please tell me do you have the staff available to do what you need to do. L. R. in reference to the snap employment training programs in regard to all of these programs we're we're. About to approve multiple appropriations funding for these appropriation request right and yet you have had a forty percent turnover rate in generally DHS has improved any and if not how will you oversee this money in an appropriate fashion our employment numbers are still order down of course as employers everywhere throughout the pandemic or are having trouble retaining and recruiting employees we're seeing the same issues with our workforce so what limit do you have I'm sorry what level of employment do you have. I'll have to go back and double check the numbers my record my recollection we're at about sixty five hundred across department right now which is that's about five hundred below where we historically have been because one of the things that I've noticed over the years even before the pandemic. You had a huge turnover rate yes ma'am and I am trying to see what is happened to stem that tide because the environment from the individuals because me is toxic so what are you doing so that we can make sure we maintain the employees and understand their value in the DHS system. Or take a number of steps to try and address the turnover rate across the department but was understand what we taught turnover rate you're talking to a of all whole lot of different specific situations so we have our facilities where we have a in a large number of lower level employees just wants to stories around doing that work and we're sister work we've had trouble bringing those folks in and retain working ideas and and plans to help improve that that's a very different situation varmint from say in our central office or we have not had as much difficulty would have some but not as much as in the facilities and the course we have a separate issues related to case workers and for children family services case workers in the Division county operations and support for all of those yes we are working through and implementing plans trying to address that and deals concerns but you know as I said earlier it is it is working against the tide in that I mean this against the all employers are senior in this environment right now in this economy. I'm Madam sure of County I'm Madam director of county operations your division is one of those that we hear about quite a bit could you tell me what you're specifically doing in your area to address those concerns that I may have. Yes ma'am we we have been working for a while as you know on implementing an eligibility system that will allow case workers working in one system rather than maintaining information in multiple systems so we are continuing that and we are close to accomplishing that which I think will help reduce the administrative burden on our staff and make our work more efficient although there is a learning curve in an adjustment period to anything that's new which which we are experiencing now we are also working to Rapidly higher as many of our vacant positions as we can are we do offer also promote some of our some of our vacancies and turnover is because people are promoting into higher level positions which leads another position vacant which means we hire again to fill that other position it's certainly not all of it but we do have a number of promotions and or transfers so that people can get to a location that's better for them to work from and things like that in and so if it is something that we're working on to improve our turnover rate in our staffing overall thank you Mr Mike my great concern to the members of the committee as we continue to give. Funding our request to the agency but they continue to be unable to maintain an employee flow that I think would demonstrate that they're using the funds efficiently thank you Mr for indulging me. Senate race who's your question for is a pretty H. us. Thank you Mr president I thank mark in a letter and it I have to be looking at fifty nine million on the C. R. as a funds but just all of this together and kind of following up with the center Chesterfield. With with all the extra federal funding. Can you assure us that that. With the turnover rate which we say if you your employer you understand. For that than have ever thought I would. Is the funding going out proportional across the state. Is it is it getting to the places sometimes it don't have much volume. But they have the need can you assure us that there's eyes and ears on that that are striving to do that. Yes Sir yeah absolutely it does go up go throughout the state and we do that is on the we look at this sure that we're reaching all different parts of the state and I'll mention that most of these images for you these are funds that flow through community action agencies and there are I believe thank you dean fifteen run state each covering a different part of the state and so that helps us ensure that we're covering all different parts of the state is that your those local agencies that those funds flow through and their local and work with the folks in your communities the help of these funds out and assist folks thank you thank you Mr. Senator Dismang you have a question thank you this is on G. ten if we could we could just a quick overview what that program is to fifty nine million dollar request related to social workers who serving citizens of Arkansas increase the use of extra help employees assist with the increase request childcare early child care services what what is that DO what's that what's that looking to accomplish is if I could have missed Williams established you can use more detail that Tony Williams division of child care and early childhood education so if you remember last night we received cares funding and we brought a package over at that time and we could survive essential worker family so they're about seven different areas Senator Dismang it is sanitation workers health care and education and early childhood teachers or professionals in that field State employees and federal employees that are deemed essential food supply chain so it's a pretty pretty broad categories but it does not take into account their income so we're able to go about our normal income for these families in addition to our regular low income talk or assistance that we have these are families that have to work during the pandemic or had to work during the pandemic. So in I guess I'm just not familiar so did you also notice is out to those there dean the social workers and what's the response rate been like of those two great taking the program and and and that sort of thing so we are serving about ten thousand families in addition to our normal workload. So how did you all do the outreach so we did we certainly came here and we shared it and I know there were some legislators who went back home and share that within their communities we did a lot of things for their comms department in terms of pushing it out social media early care and education programs they've been one of the biggest we have almost two thousand programs across the state and they relate shared that with the families that I serve and we've also worked in the state agencies and other with other organizations have commerce with met with them and a lot of agencies are sending it out not just to their employees but to the partners that they work with externally okay into we have ten thousand families utilizing right now how long or what what is the duration how long with that fifty nine million last based on what we currently or are doing so I look at projections all the time on this I would guess that this will go through about December but we will be coming back with American rescue plan finding that we have received in a very detailed wife which also the federal government has put a portion of it for these families Senator Dismang it was pretty clear that we have a plan for that will be bringing to you all in either your August or September meeting yes it meantime can you give me a list or can you get staff list of who's being to be essential because I'm not sure that I've I know exactly falls in line for that and you know to make sure that folks in my district probably other people in this room I wasn't aware the program when I first read it I assumed it was just for state employees essential state employees I don't understand it it branched out beyond that I just wanna be careful that we're not just serving people that had already you had childcare in place yeah because if we're if we're in targeting the. You know the centers in those sort of things that are utilizing them and I'm assuming they're just you know trying to make sure that they're getting reimbursed but again if we can get a list of that and make sure I can understand how we're pushing that plan now thank you yes what we'll get that to you and I will just add a couple things one is we have been very flexible and brought on that definition you're recognized in all different situations that the people have had during the pandemic but also it's on timing this is we've been doing this for going on a year or more so it's I'm just been awhile but when this first came out president of the governor promoted his press conferences we would really put it out there but we've been very happy to build help folks out during the pandemic which is in have we been able to target healthcare workers in particular to let them know I'm assuming all the hospitals have documents and you know to push that out to their employees because what I'm hearing right now is when we talk about You know restraints in hospital settings because of there not being passed or capacity issues it's really tied back to staffing issues as much as anything the beds may be there for the right folks to serve the beds into programs like this then are an added incentive now I'm sending all states have those and we're competing nationally for nurses is my understanding right now and so whatever we can do and make sure we're incentivizing and they're utilizing the better off we're going to be and I think we should also have a broader conversation about how do we help these hospitals other folks a little bit outside year round to make sure that they have the funds necessary to compete on that higher level weights it's being driven thank you. I would like to share that healthcare is the biggest Allotment of who is utilizing right now Senator Dismang it's probably more than half so about five to six thousand of those families are in the health care portion. Senator English you're recognized so I like to follow up on now I think one of the things that we're hearing and seeing a lot with them we're all face you don't you don't have enough employees that you keep losing employer you can hire more people but one of the national anthem here in the state problems is childcare across the board and I've heard the governor say many times there's not a problem childcare without lots of money but I have never seen something that so we're instead of just targeting the healthcare workers or the educators or what about all the rest of the people and I know we've had vouchers and things like that but you know this one out and those don't last very long so I guess what I'm asking is. What's our plan for how we going to deal with so many of these people across the board who really are finding that they can't afford to go back to work because they don't have child care and what is the status of our childcare facilities out there because that's probably as big an issue as anything else is do we have the facilities. To be able to take care of kids and I are they located across across the state so that is some things I think I'd like to have a conversation with you about is how do we look at this bigger picture because it. It really does make a difference as far as how whether or not we regain economic growth is is are we handling those kinds of issues and problems of thank you. When I start with the child care if I could the facilities and we license over around two thousand facilities at slightly under that in because our state never went into a complete shutdown we did have school districts who closed last March April and through June but we actually saw a net gain of providers in child care and early childhood education from March of last year through this year which is very different than other states I will say we approved over eighty applications between March and that probably April of this year at which resulted in a net gain we also have a lot of our providers who did not close the schools close but not our private child care providers I do think that in terms of what happened with them many of them served working families who paid for childcare and many of those families were able to go home and work from home and I immediately started feeling a financial burden and so because we put this into place quickly last spring and you all you know look at a work for the site to help push it out we were able to start serving you know I believe we had about five to six thousand families last year that we paid for who would typically have paid but who had to go to work they could not go to work from home I will go home and work so that helps some of those providers that typically I would say that would walk what we would have seen a huge loss in our state if we had not done. So we we've actually been kind of a rare I've actually been in some speaking engagements nationally because we are unique but it has to do with how we as a state responded to I think the pandemic you know and not closing programs down like child care in other states they were completely shut down I can operate so I think that's a positive I think you know there are shortages and I'd love I don't want to take up more time than is necessarily be respectful and others a lot of other items but would love to visit more there are some gaps with infant toddler care and around the state and there are also some gets a school age and we do have some plans for that that will be bringing back to you in a detailed why and really talking about essential workforce and working with corporations like hospitals and others who service center workers as part of the American rescue plan act that mark mentioned. Thank you very much and I I think it really is you know we we talk about education and we talk about skills training and things like that to to build the economy but I think this is really beginning to be a very key issue and I don't think that after COVID of the world of work is gonna look the same as it did before and there are lots of a lots of issues out there and lots of reasons for people to that go back to the workforce and not to go back to the workforce thank you. Senator Teague you're recognized for a question. Thank you more of a comment that I just we also passed legislation to really help in this process of licensing and trying to get health care more child care facilities up and going with the regulations as much as we could and with easier licensing and the different types of components they had to provide in order to get that quickly so just we have passed some good legislation with you guys on that and so I know that senator Bledsoe it's one of our sponsors for that bill but so those are really good things that continue to to work so there's a good news and I I think point to the success of us working together thank you. Senator Chesterfield you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair of this resolutions. One of the great issues that I have always said list with pre K. is the lack of transportation. And I continue to say the transportation is the great equalizer. Yet in our funding to pre K. we do not have a transportation budget available and we look at that again. Because many of these parents have to take a bus they don't have a private vehicle at all. In the greatest obstacle we ran into an exploit this was we couldn't get people to the centers to take advantage of the program and we address this at all. Thank you for talking about state funded pre K. Arkansas better chance that is now at the department of ed senator Chesterfield sofas with them okay yes yes you didn't go with the program. Okay. Thank you. I see no other questions without objection these items are reviewed. Thank you next item. Thank you Mr chairman now reports these are these are required no action these reports for informational purposes the first item as. Section H. this is the NCI Fund legislative report. ACT one eighty one of nineteen created the U. amis national Cancer Institute designees designation trust a trust fund this is to pursue international designation for the Winthrop Rockefeller Cancer Institute thank also requires semi in reporting the funds shows the fund balance list of administrative costs paid from the fund total revenue received by the fund in a detailed description of the steps taken toward achieving national Cancer Institute designated cancer center status the first four pages of the report provide an overview shows the value inside as a nation the process to attain designation expected time line how COVID nineteen have has impacted activities. Page five shows a map of states with the designated center there are seventy one centers in thirty six states Arkansas Louisiana Mississippi are the only states in the south data centre. Page six shows a roll mats designation and U. S. is currently in the bill stage. On page seven the shows the trust fund balance beginning balance for the reporting period in December first was eighteen point four million the fund received a hundred forty three thousand revenue from the cigarette papers tax and two million was expense from the fund for the period leaving a balance of seventeen million seventy three thousand one may thirty first. Pages eight nine show the expense breakdown of that two million and pages ten through eleven provides justifications. Page twelve shows projected expenses pages thirteen through fourteen show the progress toward achieving national Cancer Institute designation. Pages fifteen through eighteen shall recruitment activities. And Page nineteen shows cancer research grant activity this year that is section H.. Senator Dismang you're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman and just real quick I wanted to make sure just of I mean I've I've got the report but I want to make sure that things are tracking along the way that the we thought the worse I don't know who's here. FOR UAMS on that. March. And so really just kind of put it in a a few buckets or categories you know when we when we started this program we had an anticipated cost of what was going to you know take to get this thing up and going to completion there was a commitment from the state a commitment from private donors the commitment the state succeeded you know I think what was you know put out or we thought that it would be which I think is great because of that speeds up Our time that we're able to you know achieve the date of designation status and so my question really is a you know or expenses tracking the way that we had originally thought they would are the revenues tracking I mean I know they're increase but are we able to utilize those in is the benefit speeded up a process or or what is the benefit of that and then how or the contributions charitable contributions coming in and are they on par with what we thought or what we expected to happen thank you. Thank you Mr chairman Senator Dismang Marie restricts B. I. U. M. S. to answer your question yes the expenses are tracking based on the plan and the the vision outlined in two thousand nineteen and actually just on the in the front page of the newspaper you today you see I'll grant for a clinical trial that was secured three point five million dollar grant for a phase one clinical trial to protect you know a heart damaged your during chemotherapy so that's that's the efforts that's taking place on campus but also during that time since two thousand nineteen to answer your other question of thirteen million dollars has been raised from donors to match what your or your are contributing from the legislature so I think everything is moving and a real effective manner and as you see outside the memo bandits outside so we look forward to working with hospitals across the state clinics to make sure the cancer care is preventive care and navigation is active across the state we work with you know all of you Senator Irvin represent Ferguson and others to to deploy a process so that we can have cancer prevention and care in community so I think we're at the mid point of the process but on the timeline but I think we're far ahead of what we expect what we expected we would be even with with COVID nineteen we've still been able to recruit world class cancer doctors and to make sure that we are providing our Kansans with that the access in the care that they need. Very good And so those charitable contributions of come into the matching have come in the way that that we we thought they would even with the increased funding from the state of that's been generated and we do think then that revenues are going to you know be at a level that we can you know cover the extent needed expenses there's not gonna be an additional state need for the program or do we see any changes in that no I I think what you put in place you and Senator Irvin and others I think it really puts us on track and it puts us ahead of the game compared to other states and so you may you have Oklahoma and now the University of Miami or two states that were the most recent is hereby cancer designated centers and Miami would University Miami was one hundred fifty million and Oklahoma was four hundred million a combination of all those funds with this philanthropic funds our state funds and you you all have actually put us in a better situation that all those other states for over Oklahoma took Oklahoma hi seventeen eighteen years to get to Cancer Institute designation our our cancer director my doctor beer we're on the I am a plan in a five year to time frame Dr beer can be here because of he's elapse today but we look for to get him over whether it's with counsel are joint public health to explain some of those details so you all have put us ahead of the game ahead of the curve which are legislative activities but that's also inspired our of our donors in our patients to to to put some skin in the game as well to help move this far far along so doctor beer came here from the you A. B. R. NCI designated cancer center you A. B. is the only comprehensive cancer center in the south the entire south. So he came here he was a cancer director here so Dr Patterson was able to go out and recruit number one draft pick that could get us to the position where we can file the application to move it along again there's been some some pickles because of Kobe nineteen but because of that your efforts and Dr beers continued efforts we've been able to really stay the course and I think you're going to see some of those some of that impact very soon in your communities the memo band is actually on the road around the state we're starting navigation program we're starting clinical trials that have never been in this state so so them I want to say this a lot of this is about research and clinical trials so for some of the clinical trials that are going to happen at your you M. S. in Arkansas you would have to go to MD Anderson two U. A. B. hi to the Mayo Clinic to to receive these clinical trials that means of individuals leaving their families leaving their their their jobs so that's what what you all have are putting us in your constituents in our patients in the position to be able to go right down six thirty to be a part of clinical trials and to receive clinical care. Close to home and so again you have put us ahead of the game and so we will make sure that we provide additional information to so you will be able to to understand the in a very detailed fashion how this works when that's what I was so many years when it last pieces about how we're we're ahead of schedule five you're tracking not going to put ourselves in a position like Okolona as and and and drug over you know so many dragged out over so many years so again Bridget the update thanks thank. Senator Irvin you're recognized. Thank you I just think that I want to just. Thank you referred for the report and also to point out that the laboratory research continued unaffected throughout the pandemic I think that's really really important and then the recruitment that's detailed here is really covering a lot of in the entire state it's not just the central Little Rock effort here this is relieve reached out across like I see that in the report I'm utilizing talent I think where we have it in the state I think that's very important I think it's really important that you look that kind of a lot of the components of what you've recruited is really not targeted to one individual cancer but really trying to affect you know as much Cancers that we cannot attack effectively it at M. B. experts and question and I'm not sure if this is something you can answer now but do we I know that doctor beer and I know that doctor camp at doctor Patterson we've had discussions in the past about the prevalence of different types of cancers with our Kansans specific to our health conditions in our health issues how has that you know information kind of directed are recruitment. Definitely as as a soccer coach I know you understand this and and and if you look at the report Dr beer kinda outlines that is that you know you have large scale recruitment for cancer doctors we have strategic recruitments we have targeted recruitment and you know to make sure that we can have a comprehensive Teague that's whether it's breast cancer are so cancer or prostate cancer that we're we're running the gamut to make sure we have a full team of researchers and doctors that are on on board and so that that is a part of the plan and and again I think this is actually happen is a magnet process where we recently we heard last last week from the VA work wanting to work with us to do a breast cancer study of you know for women but maybe the X. may have been exposed to certain chemicals so I think with this breast cancer prostate cancer brain cancer we we're going to have experts that are top flight. at UAMS so you don't have to go to sleep that's apart and I think that's what doctor beer brings to the table I mean he's a number one draft pick which we were able to securing get he's got the contacts to know where those hot to holler grants and clinical research money can come from that help our citizens I love the one that you mentioned with the department of defense and through the military and what's happening with that with the breast of breast cancer and what's the ability that we have for that so that's exciting and I want to say this we we have some magnificent facilities that you will all have helped us to secure with equipment and we would definitely want to get you all out on campus and I this is one of the things that COVID is kind impact because we do have a number of immuno compromised patients all most of them are and so what we want to make sure that we do more of that so you get all can have hands on and see the implementation and see the progress yourselves so that you can relate this to your constituents and and your communities but we look forward to having these conversations NCI conversations in your communities as well yeah so we want to make sure they know that is available thank you for the accountability of the report thank you for the continued efforts and it was a good partnership and I just wanna thank the legislature for doing this on behalf of the citizens thank you. Senator Ingram you're recognized yeah I up it is an impressive list that has been recruited in do the vast majority of these doctors do are they of teaching courses as well as seeing patients or are you or is it strictly research lab work only. They're doing all the above their teaching they're seeing patients there training residents so they are doing everything so they are applying for grants so so so also a major part of what they're doing is is research but there's treating patients. training residents and medical students at their end in there with them nurses are in there with them so they they do all the above okay thank you. Seenu other questions without objection is items reviewed. Thank you Mr the next report is in section I this is the year in items approved on an emergency basis report ales the provided emergency review in June two The if made to make budget adjustments that will become apparent in closing books on the end of the fiscal year on page three or the pay plan appropriation transfers they were thirteen agencies and they received twenty eight thousand and appropriation in amounts that range from seven thousand five hundred for the Department commerce and a hundred eighty dollars for the department of inspector general. Nexter budget classification transfers those are on pages four through twelve on page four this shows the board of examiners and counseling they transferred three thousand nine hundred and their budget Page six shows UP be transferred fifty eight dollars. Page eight shows the governor's office transferred nine thousand eight hundred and five and Page ten shows the administrative office of the courts transferred twenty thousand. On page twelve. Page well this last section these are cash appropriation increases Page thirteen shows that Arkansas research and educational opportunity C. one hundred and sixty one thousand Page fifteen shows National Park college received two hundred five thousand and on page seventeen the board optometry received one thousand sure those rather reported items. Members the report sent require any action is are there any questions. Senator Chesterfield you're recognized thank you Mr it's it's not a question about this but I've gotten a number of emails and calls concerning the but I raised to you earlier about funding for public school employees that will not see a raise will not see an increase in cost I spoke with the FNA and they explained to me where that was. Would be helpful if our people knew that they didn't have to come to council in order to lobbyists again about this money is it already a done deal as far as the mitigating circumstances that we have put in place to keep the cost of health insurance going up on a public school employees. Am I making any sense Mr record you come to the table please. I think that would be helpful and then we can put this baby to rest. Robert brexit Office state budget the there are the rest of thirty five million dollar transfer that was a approved out of the restricted reserve for FY twenty two in additions US secretary key the. Let's twenty million dollars for that effort I believe it's going to be taken to mourn personal committee this will be discussed so that's where it will be on the engine and personnel all right thank you so much thank you Mr. If there were other questions will move on the next item. Thank you Mr the next reports are month reports begin the section J. the first one J. one is a rainy day fund report and this report shows rainy day fund income and distributions as of the end of June the last table at the bottom of the page shows project distributions and a fund balance of six million five and seven one thousand one hundred seventy six dollars. One J. to the budget stabilization trust fund report and the shows cash flow loans throughout the fiscal year as of the end of June there twelve point three million housing loans and cash balances a hundred eighty four point four million. J. three is a tobacco settlement report and this report gives a summary of income fund balances investments actual payments to the state and on the second page raw expenses by fiscal year and the last four G. last report J. for state Central Services Fund and this report shows the fund balance and disbursements as well as expenditures of each agency supported by the fund. Seeing no questions on any of these reports and having no other businesses meeting is adjourned.