ALC-Personnel

This is all take a moment. Remember Jack and Pam Waechter. Also representative Godfrey lost her dead I thank this morning or yesterday. And I'm gonna say just a brief prayer. Oh lord. Thank you for the blessings that you have given us. Watch over our friends our loved ones. What's your Jack and his family this day watch over representative Scott free and her family. And lord and watch of the two new angels at. Me to heaven in Jesus name amen. Folks we've We've got a long agenda today. It's a through a through. More than three. And from being a P. will require action and with that we're going to get started go ahead Sir. Thank you Mr chairman Members the committee other members that are here on your desks some of you will find folders we have a folder for each member of the committee there's folders with a reference document reference guides for higher ed and state agency information as well as the paid plans that are currently in effect today through the end of this fiscal year when we get it next fiscal year July will switch out those pay plans for the reference guides will still be there they should be on your desk each and every meeting if you have questions or need to reference something please don't hesitate to ask it it may be in there as well so I just want you to know that that's what was in the folder Mr chairman we're gonna start with item be this is the copy of the personal subcommittee rules that need to be adopted by the committee these rules that the deadline for requests to be submitted to the committee as well as the threshold for suspending the rules to take up late requests like to note that the second page is for reference only and provides a LC rules for personnel that were adopted on may twenty first these rules allow for consideration information and recommendation for EBT by the board of finance as well as efficiency and transparency in budgeting study to be performed by December of twenty twenty two as required by ACT seven ninety six with that Mr chairman that's item be. Members are there any questions or any comments. and I I do need a motion for this. I have a motion I have a second. All in favor say aye. Any opposed. It is passed. Mr chairman items C. one through C. three or request from institutions of higher education for central growth pole positions from the department of higher education I don't see what is requested Arkansas state university for for non classified positions from higher education central pool the university is requesting to assistant coaches with a line at a maximum of ninety thousand dollars these positions will be responsible for coaching recruiting scouting and conducting player development the institution is also requesting to new academic advisors with a lot at a maximum of seventy one thousand these positions will be utilized to provide students support from enrollment to graduation. Okay items C. two is a request from Southeast Arkansas college for five non classified positions from the center growth pool first as a counselor position with the line at a maximum of a hundred and six thousand provide mental health and coping strategies to students faculty and staff second is the director of police and public safety with a lot at a Max ninety four thousand to service the chief law enforcement officer on campus third is a network support analyst with a line at a maximum maximum of sixty four thousand to assist in maintaining data voice video and wireless networks on campus fourth would be to hire a public safety supervisor positions with one at a maximum of sixty one thousand is to be responsible for supervising public safety staff and assisting campus access control. I am C. three is requesting the universe of Arkansas Fort Smith institutions requesting fifteen positions from the central growth tool for positions would be twelve month assistant professors with a lot of Max one hundred fifty seven thousand if the responsible for online classes online in classroom instruction six positions will be twelve month clinical instructors with a lot at a maximum maximum of eighty three thousand dollars would be responsible for academic coaching and support services for students to improve academic success and retention one position would be a nine month graduate assistant with a lot at a Max of twenty nine thousand will be responsible for touring in the writing center in assisting with outreach and recruitment for the writing center will be two more positions with that would be twelve month instructors these have a lot at a maximum of one hundred and seven thousand dollars responsible for online and classroom instruction as well as recruiting AT and advising students the last two positions would be twelve month professors without one at a Max of a hundred and sixty four thousand responsible for online classroom instruction as well as service to the department college and university all positions requested other than a graduate assistant also due to a conversion of the workday system that the institution is implemented and they will help you deal with their benefits and leave accrual Mr chairman that's item C. one to C. three. Members are there any questions or there any comments on C. one through C. three. If not then I need a motion. I have a motion that I have a second. All in favor say aye. Any opposed. And none just past. Mr moving on to item D. this is requesting the department commerce division of workforce services requesting the use of a second language differential for twenty classifications that include two hundred ninety two positions this would allow the division to pay employees to a score high enough on independent proficiency exam I salary differential of up to ten percent above their current salary employee must utilize the second language at least twenty five percent of their working time and should they switch to a position that no longer requires a second language they will lose the differential the Division has five employees ready to take the proficiency exam currently and the maximum cost for those five employees would be about twenty thousand dollars per year. And members are there any comments are there any questions. And I have a motion to I have a second. And I have a second all in favor. Any opposed. Senate passes. Mr chairman moving the item E. these items under your request for various departments divisions for opium swap will positions I did you want his request from the department of commerce division of workforce services they want to surrender to positions both at a great GSO three in return for an account to position and agree GSO eight the compositional be utilized in the adult education section of DBS because the financial responsibilities for tennis snapping americorps programs have recently moved over to the adult education section according to OPM the Department and OPM expect the cost savings of roughly seven thousand dollars by the swaps. Do I have a question. Members any comments any questions. C. nine two I have a motion I have a motion to have a second. I have a second all in favor say aye. Any opposed. C. none it has passed. Mr chairman items you too is requesting the department of correction to surrender to fiscal support specialists agreed yes so for in return for one computer support analyst at an I. T. O. three department correction is requesting this position to help with the increased demand for video conferencing and support for video technology the agency has noted that the swap will have a cost of about ten thousand dollars based on savings. Members of the questions and comments. I have a motion I have a second all in favor say aye. All opposed. See none it is passed. Mr chairman items E. three is a request from the department of education they're requesting to surrender three admin specialist positions at a GSO three and yes so for in return for eighty coordinator of special programs at GS thirteen the new position work within the office of public school accountability Be responsible for assisting schools with waivers of statute or rule interpreting federal and state laws as well as providing technical support to charter schools the department expects to see a savings of three thousand two hundred fifty dollars after filling the. Members do I have any questions in the comments. Sam Nunn I hear motion to I have a second. I have a second all in favor. Hi any opposed Senate has passed. I thank you for your question department of finance and administration of the assessment coordination division they're requesting the surrender of two adminstration's threes in return for one property assessment coordinator manager at GSO seven the position will be used to meet the requirements set forth in ACT eighty eight nineteen of twenty nineteen therefore the digit Division to maintain records of all properties in the state that are exempt from property tax requires audit of each of the county this county assessor's records to ensure exemptions are accurately granted the agency expects to see it costs about forty thousand dollars filling. Members are there any questions any comments. I have a motion I have a second all in favor say aye. Any opposed Senate as passed. Mr chairman items F. one and F. two are both requests from departments to transfer positions from other divisions within their department to the shared services division of the same department F. one is requesting the department of correction to transfer twenty two positions from the divisions of correction correction training academy community correction training academy and legal services to the Department shared services division these positions and crew include law enforcement training instructors ABC DCC training administrator ABC DCC training academy supervisor administrator specialists inventory control manager internal auditor and in order. Members to have any comments or any questions. Seeing none I have a motion. Do I have a second. Okay I have a second. All in favor. Anybody opposed. Senate as passed. Mr chairman item F. two is requesting the department public safety to be three positions of from two divisions into their shared services division sure Services Division of DPS to the positions will come from the commission on law enforcement standards and training one is a Class senior agent in the and the other as the Director of classed the third position will come from state police and as a construction and maintenance coordinator this letter states that the positions we cross created into different classifications in the shared services division. Members are there any questions or any comments. I have a motion the second all full all all in favor. Anybody opposed. It is passed. Mr chairman item G. this is a request made by the Department transformation shared services office personnel management the request is for a statewide salary administration grid for all departments and agencies in response to an original request for the Department finance administration according to their letter opium thought the difficult to recommend DFA's request without considering the impact on other agents agreed as provided on page two a third of the request and would be phased in over three years The Great provides opportunity for increased salaries to all employees and classifications with grades GS one the GSO five based on years of service but will be capped at five thousand dollars per year per employee the departments and agencies will not be required or mandated to provide these adjustments if all departments and agencies do to implement the requested salary grid the cost according opium will be roughly fifty five million dollars in total cost with twenty six of that twenty six million of that fifty five million coming from general revenues this would apply roughly two thirteen thousand of the thirty six thousand positions that are authorized in could affect roughly nine thousand of the twenty thousand state employees you can see the total for the cost for each department broken out of the bottom of page to this request and the G. R. as broken down at the top of page three requested response to high turnover rates across state government and lower level positions and the inability to recruit and retain new employee. And member have I'm sorry members I have some comments one second. Okay who's in. Who's in the seat sixty seven. Okay jim representative Dotson you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair I guess I'm not sure if it's OPM that I'm have a question for or if it's transformation services I'm not sure but didn't we just go through an entire PAYPLAN pay scale revamp couple years ago and and then. Did we talk about this during the session in the last couple months isn't letter seems like a big deal okay yes it is let me tell you what transpired in two thousand seventeen we did implement a new pay plan at that time we were like two dollars above the minimum wage for entry right since the minimum wages crept up so much and we've had companies like Amazon and Costco all those people coming in these departments are experiencing serious recruitment difficulties is this other thing and sign on bonuses and up to seventeen fifty an hour that's what. I'm sorry. Okay so that was really the main thing about this competing request the request came in from DFA during the session but we tried to study it because we need to see what the impact would be it's important to point out that we're not giving any departments additional funding but we're allowing them to use this great if they have the ability to. So this wasn't brought up in budget hearings at all during the session even though we knew we're going to be asking about this during the interim. Nassar. Okay thank you. And who's sitting in number sixty nine C. six nine. And represent Cavenaugh you're recognized ma'am. Thank you Mr chair over here. Similar to represent of Dotson it's kind of strange that two months after we're out of the general session on recess that you present us with the fifty five million dollar possible increase to the budget of spending so are these included in current appropriations and wasn't included in the balanced budget that was presented to the legislature okay this was not include included in current budgets it would have to be assigned by the agency with their salary savings if they have such okay and the reason was not brought up and let me clarify D. if they did put the request in during the session but we had to do some study have to collect a lot of salary data and knew that we could handle this administratively by using special enter rights versus upgrades and other actions that generally occur during the session. Hello Mister chair. Go ahead representative called law thank you well for a increase of this announcmenet in my opinion it should have been addressed during general session and so it could have been handled properly through the whole legislative branch but beyond that. We're saying that it's a fifty five million dollars fifty five point four million dollar hit and then you're saying that twenty six million approximately as general revenue where's the rest of that funding going to come from it comes summary that the federal funds of the agencies that are kind of self funded their licensing fees. And if an agency doesn't have federal funds and they don't have of fees to cover this how it how if they raise how's it going to be fun it would be through their budget allocation that they have right now they have to we're not giving any extra dollars for this currently in only you're not asking for it yet generally it's done through salary savings maybe keeping more positions vacant you not also maybe addressed somewhat with the turnover they're having because these grades have thirty five up quite a bit over thirty five percent turnover in a lot of cases and so they haven't re train and re hired here so we're just trying to help him retain those employees they have. I appreciate you saying that because I do have a question about these positions I would like to know how many people you have at these levels and how long they stay at these levels and when they are terminated or they terminated or do they advance up to another position in the state. These and I have some figures here I could show you some departmental turned over data that is not what I meant what I am asking number positions within each department and generally the turnover is leaving state government as we don't count and I turn over we do not count career advancement subsample a permits and other position on the part goes to another agency we don't actually count that is turnover we count turnover is leaving the state that's not what I'm asking what I'm asking is I want to know how many of these positions are left vacant because they did advance into the state that's what I'm asking you. Well that would take the I would have to do an analysis I can do that but it would take an analysis of every position to see what is he left and what Mister chair could she present that to the committee when she gets that as a whole. Thank you. Yes ma'am. In center Chesterfield you're recognized. Mister chair and thank you Mr taking mine my question. I am concerned that we're talking about about nine thousand people yes and the number of state employees at this point is how many about twenty four five executive employees so we're talking about nineteen thousand people being left out. Well actually if we could up we would implement a new pay plan this time with the like we need a new pay plan and then explaining L. but because COVID all the things that happened so far we weren't able to do it for this particular fiscal year this is I will admit this is a bandaid this is a band aid is not a total fix but it is our lowest paid employees that we're trying to address it is the only state law if a state employee yes grades one through five okay so we're not dealing with the the folks who make the big money notice that we're dealing with those individuals who have been underpaid and under appreciated over a period of time which is always been my concern yes so that's what would because when we're talking about these other nineteen they're making up making more money right. But when we are competing with so many companies even Walmart raised its Valerie we're going to have to do more and it is my hope that if we come into fiscal session or something of that so that we can look at even more but we're going to have to do something for employees and I applaud you for bringing this especially for those who are making the least but. What overall are you seeing them do to address this huge turnover because I know in the Department of Human Services with it was as much as forty percent and some up to forty percent thank you cannot operate government if you don't have state department corrections also had some very high turnover during this correctly so this is the first step we have is to address the salary ranges are and that's what we're trying to do here thank you so very much. In representative speaks you're recognized thank you Mr chair. My concern is how far below or we exist catching it up for what if we do this today does this catch it up to what the minimum wage is for this year okay the pay plan that was passed for this fiscal year we artificially great rates grade one to meet the minimum wage only which is eleven dollars an hour what this plan takes us a little about that eleven dollars an hour minimum wage how much well let me say aye I need. Okay for example ugh were I think minimum wage is over twenty two I think it's like twenty two five what we're recommending this twenty six nine fifty for jobs in grade one. So it's about a it's the second it's about four thousand dollars. Thank you. And Senator Hickey you're recognized thank you Mr thank you up minds my questions will be totally about the money what you say that you're not asking for the money I guess today. What I'm looking at those three or four months from now have you already discussed do you anticipate I mean if you have an agency that says look we're losing money I mean we're losing employees. But we don't have this within our budget are you gonna come back and request that from restricted reserve. But not. We're not what we would do with his work with that particular department if they don't have the money to go all the way and they wanted to make some sort of adjustment but maybe not all the way to them to the point we would work with them but we would not find any dollars that it would be saying during the next fine you know but okay so. Because here's the thing we've got a whole a whole lot of stuff a whole lot of requests are coming out restricted reserve now of course everybody has to have their budget to work within that I see that the board of finance although we're looking to do the thirty five million today for the teachers also a request that we hold back another ten million for the state employee's side so we need to keep a running balance of this and I hear what you're saying that you're not anticipating doing that but are you going to basically promised to join I will be coming back asking for restricted reserve money because we have to we have to balance for that. I mean I came from this company but that that those discussions have not have not taken place that we're going to wait and then we'll come to the legislature here in three or four months and try to get some money is that correct. Yes that has not happened. Those conversations have not happened about that that that we have advised departments would come back and ask for additional funds for them right I know Sir we have not had those discussions we told them they have to go through their existing resources okay thank you ma'am. Representative Cavenaugh you're recognized thank you Mr chair piggybacking off first senator Chesterfield question on the employees that aren't in these grades but say there's six or seven when we implement some of these races some people are actually going to jump above some of the people in the lower level of six so you've got a a disparity there how are you all going to handle and we do have administrative steps that we can take to address those disparities what I looked at say about grades five went to a grade five those two thirty nine six nine six but a grade six starts out at thirty six one fifteen we have ability to approve the fifteen percent above right to just employees there if we need to but we're not gonna do it just I would at first to do it for everybody it's a great run to look at those individuals follow Mister chair so that the the fifty five million could actually turn into more because you're having to adjust for people that actually in other grades that are now making less than the people in these grades that's what could have that is also additional costs that might be out there yes ma'am I don't have the numbers of the grades but I think that is very few employees and I don't know if they're all the same places we would like I said we would look at that's an individual basis as we do right now with any request by the state thanks thank you. In center Chesterfield you're recognized ma'am yes thank you madam chair at fifteen dollars an hour what does that come out to yearly okay using that brain of yours since mine is atrophy Well there's I'm sorry about the housing with me it's it's over a thirty one thousand dollars it's it's. We have twenty two thousand twenty hours per work years those of fifteen dollars an hour. Thank you thirty one thousand two hundred all right that comes out in for family of four what they. Qualified then for snap. Now that I would have to ask somebody else I'm not exactly sure because what I'm saying is even though we're raising it nobody's gonna get rich off of this right right but if we don't do something pretty soon. We're going to continue to have people going to other places as the cosco's and the Amazons and even Walmart raising its minimum salary we're going to have to do better for the folks that work for us. Would you agree yes ma'am thank you. Members are there any additional questions or comments. Seeing none do I have a motion. I have I have a motion do I have a second. I have a second all in favor say aye. It imposed. It has passed. All right miss Mr chairman moving forward forward item age is requesting the department of public safety to create a new title of DPS general counsel and a great GS fifteen this request actually goes along with item F. to the director of the Commission on law enforcement standards and training a position that was moved into shared services and have to be cross created to this new title of DPS general counsel. The position will be head of legal operations for the department this section will not create an additional position only a new classification to be used on an existing position. And who's sitting in the seat eighty three up. Senator Ingram you're recognized certain questions. Reckon questions on this. Yes Sir you're recognized. I've got some questions on this it maybe miss cook could answer Mrs and Mr could you please come up. And if you would please identify yourself Jamie cook secretary of the Arkansas department of public safety and director of the Commission on Law enforcement standards and training ma'am you're recognized thank you Sir. Thank you of. Of. This is a new position is being created. We're cross grading an existing position to this new title yes Sir. Your cross grading a new position to this title okay so of. How many of attorneys are in a S. P. three so you've got three and this individual will oversee the three yes and we also have an attorney at the Commission on Law Enforcement Stearns and training and we have an attorney at the Department merge the management okay so in all we have five attorneys and DPSS will add a chief which would make us have six and we also have to legal support of paralegals. Okay of this position with the is a GS fifteen of could pay up to a hundred forty thousand dollars to you do you expect that would be the upper range that it would be a hundred thirty seven thousand a hundred thirty seven thousand eight hundred thirty seven thousand of help me with the how many people F. A. S. P. make more than a hundred thirty seven thousand. I think one or two maybe that I don't know if the lieutenant colonels make more than that are not expected Colonel does so this position would be of the second highest paid a is pretty for the DPS it is a it's a shared service so he will be able to service all six of our divisions and our shared services unit. Has it the committee that was established for this position of our are these attorneys overloaded with for your requests or or week of me what is the justification for the president Senator Ingram that's a great question there should there's a lot that goes with public safety I know that you know that and and we have a we have absolutely increase our fully a request we also have a lot more scrutiny that that the public expects that we're gonna have our training all of our training review you know we run all of our training academies of art The certification request in the state for law enforcement we have eleven thousand five hundred law enforcement officers in Arkansas and we're we're decertifying around forty a year those those things continue to increase too so just just those accountability and transparency efforts that we have we we see increases in those day and so we want to make sure that we're investing in those public safety efforts so that we meet the expectations of you and the public and our staff. So that your your do you believe that that is that that up this current staff that we have is needs additional supervision. I believe they need additional resources we have exceptional attorneys at the department of public safety and and I think we have to continue to invest in those legal resources and that's what we're trying to do with this position do you anticipate this position being filled by internal promotion no Sir I would expect it to be filled by a US attorney prosecuting attorney Cody Hiland in fact we brought him on staff on Monday in the director's position and we like to establish this title to move him into shared services okay up last question would you provide me with of it with a S. P. with classed and of of eighty M. the number for your request that you said that we're answering a year that to increase would you give me those number of for your request absolutely. Up no further questions thank you Mr thank you Sir. Senator Chesterfield you're recognized thank you are. So you've already hired somebody for the job we did we Hartman the Director of class position and we're gonna cross title it over to a DPS chief legal counsel existing position yes so we don't approve this would you under. Well just like home builders have to work for class I guess Kay who do you have my help me out on that we work with opium on this it I guess I'm just a little out races affected use one on it is that we will create we don't know how this person will create a position. We already know who it is we're not gonna let anybody else apply for the position. And those folks who have been working in that position all right working in that area for a very long time one even have the opportunity to you apply is that what you're telling. Enter Chesterfield under the current what you're telling me in the under the current page pay plan you do not have to advertise jobs GS thirteen and above are not required to be advertised because those used to be appointed positions and when we converted to the new pay plan and seventeen we actually graded on but they're not subject to the same rules as the first twelve grades and who decided that it was only approve pay plan that was back in seventeen when we discuss the play plan we'd in state we never you never presented to me as a member of that group that Hey. These folks don't have to apply like everybody else. The rest of the people the little guys have to apply for these positions compete against other folks but we can bring in somebody and I love Cody death because the and I go back a long way it's just the principle of the thing that's troubling to me you work yourself to death for division and then somebody else that you like can get that position and doesn't even have to go through the process of applying no are you giving those individuals why you got turned over. Because you know give those folks were already working there an opportunity to invite. No one of the leading up. Thank you. And senator you're recognized. Thank you just a quick question I'm looking at timeline. So. I'm I'm thinking of the time so when. I'm looking at the time line of when somebody is hired. And when things are promised to the. And then that's done before you come and get permission from the legislature to do it. Okay I don't question is that normal operating procedure or. And I'll be honest with you it doesn't matter who it is that's not how this works we are the legislature we say yes or we say no and then if we say yes then you should probably go and hire somebody and promised them whatever you're gonna promise them to a different position a different salary. Don't come to us. It It that with with that timeline. I'm may be the only person sitting here thinking this but. These people that I work with that are sitting here with me. We all have lives we are districts and people we represent we've been elected to do a job. And that's not right. It's not appropriate. Senator overnight I definitely see that is that your point and I apologize I certainly don't mean any disrespect to this body I've always tried to be very open and transparent I work through the office of personnel management to to kind of get the timeline lined out because it's not a new position it is an existing position I'm wearing two hats as the director and the secretary and and I certainly did not mean any disrespect to this body because I'm very highly respect this body in the in the work that we do and and it's it's probably mine in experience I worked with opium I thought I was doing the right thing and if I didn't do the right thing I certainly do apologize. Two in. One okay I appreciate that I do and I understand that but but this is a problem okay this is this is me being a mom moments. It's just like yesterday you had agencies that came before us and it states in the legislation you will bring to us a sheet of paper that outlined specifically what you're going to spend the money on and how you're going to do it and agencies that did that I'm gonna brag on the department of education they did it Arkansas tech university they provided us a one pager other agencies did not it is time for you to it's the action of that that is disrespectful to this body into these people I'm sitting up here with it's that action it's not you personally and I know you and you you know I we work very closely together but it's the mentality. That's happening it's not okay with me it is not OK to treat these people like that. And that is not just directed to you that's directed to every single person out there that's in a state agency that comes before this body do not do this. And at some point we as a legislature are going to say no and then you're going to have to go back and deal with that and disappoint those people or whatever but what I'm I'm tired of being treated that way I'll just flat out say it and I think everybody else is too and we would be happy to work with you in a partnership to accommodate what you're trying to accomplish. But do it in a way that is appropriate that follows the law and that respects the judicial branch of government the legislative branch of government the executive branch of government's. That's that's a problem and I I. Thank you Mr chair. Members are there any additional comments or questions. yes you're recognized yes ma'am of did anyone ask you outside of your department to hire this individual no Sir thank you. Members again are there any additional questions or comments. Saying under I have a motion. I have a motion to I have a second. I have a second all in favor say aye hi any opposed. Members of. By with the nose haven't. I have a motion from what a roll call. Okay I have to have five total. Three do I have three hands of okay I've got three hands for a roll call we'll start recall. Mr chairman starting with representative Kenneth Ferguson. I ask that everyone I apologize we start with the Senate apologize. Senator jim Hendren. Engine we're gonna go to his alternate Senator Mathew Pitsch. Senator wrong Caldwell. Senator Linda Chesterfield. Senator Jonathan Dismang. Sing Senator Dismang grows alternate Senator Clarke Tucker. Senator Cecile Bledsoe. Senator Hickey. Senator Ingram. Senator Irvin. Senator Rice. And I'm going to go to the House representative Kenneth Ferguson. Representative Cavenaugh. Representative Deborah Ferguson. Not seeing a representative Ferguson first alternate representative marsh. March Davis skews me. Seeing representative Marsha Davis representative Milton Nicks. Representive fight. Representive Lowery. Representative Murdock. First alternate representative hollow well. Second alternate. Representive McElroy. Representative speaks. Representative Dotson. Representative Wardlaw. Not seeing represent Wardlaw. A representative group. Representative. Barker. It members members The motion passes. Ninety six ninety six ma'am. I the committee. Wishes to committee. Yeah the senator just fill. NO one that was not on the committee voted. Only commemorate only committee members voted. Okay. Present and voting. Yes ma'am. That's correct that's correct. I apologize Mister chairman okay moving on to item. I. I don't I is requesting department public safety for Arkansas state crime lab the departments requesting approval of salary increases for five current associate medical examiners utilizing new special language found in ACT nine ninety five section forty six the language allows the department to write sellers up to fifty percent over the maximum of their grade for approval by a LC for the associate medical examiners in the chief medical examiner. The current rate of the associate medical examiner classifications isn't M. P. O. nine with a maximum salary of two hundred forty one thousand seven four hundred and seventy eight dollars we are fifty percent above this maximum it get you to three hundred and sixty two thousand two hundred seventeen dollars all of the request is salaries are below three hundred thousand dollars the purpose of the language and is requested to be able to compete with other states in recruiting and retaining employees we have current. Members are there any questions. Any comments. See none do I have a motion. I have a motion. Do I have a second. I have a second. All in favor say aye. It imposed. Senate passes. Mr chairman moving on to item J.. Is requesting the Arkansas department of public safety for the Arkansas state crime lab as well. This is similar to the previous request and the Department public safety is requesting increased salaries for utilizing the same language but this is for two new employees departments requesting a salary of two hundred sixty thousand for a new associate medical examiner which would exceed the current Max of the MPO nine they're also requesting a special interest for the new chief medical examiner they wish to bring the new chief medical examiner in at three hundred fifty thousand dollars which exceeds the Max of the assigned to great MP ten the Max Heller FOR empi tennis two hundred seventy thousand up to earn seventy thousand four and fifty five dollars with fifty percent above that maximum being four hundred five thousand six hundred eighty two dollars if approved to review both new employees would still be below the fifty. Members to have any comments or any questions. C. none do I have a motion. I have a motion do I have a second. I have a second all in favor say aye. Any opposed. Senate passes. Mr chairman item K. is requested Arkansas universe of Arkansas Fort Smith the street shift differential for their higher ed public safety dispatchers that work evening and overnight shifts institution is requesting to provide a six percent salary differential to these employees the difference would have a total estimated cost of twenty seven hundred dollars in order to receive the difference of the employees must work either a four PM to twelve AM shift for the twelve AM to eight AM shift. Members do I have any questions or any comments. Seeing none do I have a motion I have a motion. Do I have a second I have a second all in favor say aye okay in the post. Senate passes. Mr chairman item L. as a miscellaneous federal grant request the Department education based on a grant from the Cooper corporation for national community service the grant has a position that was reviewed by peer but the personal committees responsible for reviewing the classification which has been requested as a grants coordinator with great yes seven position we used to help coordinate additional funding provided by the corporation for national community service for items like Martin Luther king day and service grants community organizers. Members do I have any questions do I have any comments. Seeing none do I have a motion. I have a motion to I have a second. I have a second all in favor. I have imposed. Senate passes. Mr chairman items M. one through M. fifteen these are requests for continuation of items previously approved by this committee for the next fiscal year these items include salary ministration grits differentials labor market rates which are all used to recruit retain employees as well as pole positions and miscellaneous federal grant positions which create a new positions on a temporary basis with the chair in the committee's permission we could batch these items together following a motion by the Committee implied any individual or trust the committee may want to hear. Members does anybody disagree with batching. Okay and if you have any questions on any of the items just let us know. With that. Do I have any questions do I have any comments. I'll give you second look over this. And members I do need a motion the batch I have that motion do I have a second I have a second all in favor say aye any opposed. All right thank you. Mr chairman moving on to item in item in is a letter provided by the Department transformation insurance services office personnel management in relation to ACT seven ninety six it was passed during the ninety third General Assembly OPM is required to pull information related to positions have been vacant for two years or more and bring information to the committee for review of which position or which of these positions agencies want to keep and which ones can eventually be terminated the date to run the reporters June fifteenth which is yesterday opium is requesting to bring the finalized report with analysis and requests and recommendations to the July personnel committee meeting with that letter Mr. Members to have any questions or any comments. If not I need a motion. I have a motion to I have a second. I have a second all in favor say aye. Any opposed. In the past thank you. Hi Mister chairman items Item is a package of five contract amendments provided by state wide shared services employee benefits division of DSS after recommendation by the board of finance the board of finances making these recommendations due to act one thousand four which also requires Arkansas state and state employee and public school employee health benefit plans receive approval of Legislative Council before they may be implemented by the board the rules of Legislative Council as they were adopted on may twenty first referred items submitted by the board of finance under Act one thousand four to the personnel committee so item one is an amendment to the contract with D. B. R. axe at UAMS The Amendment add an additional two point one million dollars to the contract to extend the contract services for one year currently eight a half million dollars has been paid to date and the total projected cost of the contract is twelve point seven million E. R. X. provides consulting technical and operational support to each ETC prescription drug program. Item two is an amendment to the contract with a chi at UAMS The Amendment add an additional two hundred thousand dollars for continuation of the contract for one year currently one point three million dollars has been paid to date on the contract and the total projected cost of the contract is two point one million eight guys responsible for providing additional staff and resources including an onsite data analyst to utilize data and plan management and strategic decision making they also provide programmatic support is needed. Item three is an amendment to the contract with connect your care LLC The Amendment as an additional eight hundred fifty thousand dollars for continuation of the contract for one year currently five hundred sixty one thousand it's been paid to date on the contract the total projected cost of the contract is three point nine million connect your cal LLC provides FSA F. H. A. have it your your planting clover Services for Evey day. Item four is amended to the contract with medi impact healthcare systems the amendment adds two point five million for continuation of the contract for one year currently eleven point three million has been paid to date on the contract the total projected cost of the contract is eighteen point four million met impact is responsible for providing pharmacy benefit management for the A. R. benefits health plan for state and school employees item five is an amendment to the contract with mainstream technologies the amendment adds two point five million for continuation of the contract contract for one year currently eleven million has been paid to date and the total projected cost of the contract is eighteen point nine million mainstream technologies provides software software development capabilities for the our benefits system which provides eligibility enrollment billing health and pharmacy claim information as well as appeals processing and reporting Mr chairman that's item of. It members do I have any questions or any comments on this. Go ahead Sir. Mr chairman. I think you have me on instead of. Senator. And I'm I'm sorry I have the my head represent Dotson owner initially helicopters you can get that thing that I can't hear either. But I did find very good. Well you're still with us so you know it's been pretty darn good thank you Sir all right the question is of under if the owner three the connect your care LLC contractor of the total off road was a million seven six seventy five and then then it will read the eight fifty but it says total projected or are we help me with the the projected. Are we looking at a contracted started the million six and and it's going to end at four million that that's sort of where my question is. And Sir if you would go ahead and in the process and answer that question sure Jake plea DFA excuse me T. S. S. employee benefits division so I think what you're looking at there is the full price of the contract if we're worst extended out across seven years I think that's what it is each of the contracts that are presented to you today are one year extensions at the existing terms these are existing contracts that we maintain they all expire on June thirtieth they're all important for what we do the connect your care is a of. A vendor that we maintain a relationship with to provide health savings accounts FSA's cobra benefits other things that were required under law to provide and so this is the total contract over a seven year period that's how I reading it yet some of the way the the contracts are presented or somewhat hard to read but the we are not seeking any increase in funding for these these are merely extensions of existing contracts okay thank you. And who sent in seats sixty seven that is that you. Thank you Mr chair represent Dawson you're recognized I I guess I just have questions might be for staff why these didn't go through the review subcommittee or peer. I can I can pick that up if I can so because these are not a change in terms under changes that were adopted during the session these will be reported to review because their contracts to do not have an increase in amounts or anything it's in nearly an extension existing term so they will be reported but they're being presented here personnel compliance with act one thousand four. Okay thank you. And Sir represent Dotson Marty remind me these all of these items for EBT the one thousand four or required by A. L. C. rule to come to personnel. And representative or senator Hammer you're recognized Sir thank you Mr Jake let me ask you you know we've hired consultants or come in and take a look at what we do for cost savings. And these contracts are extended through when did you say June of this year these will be twelve month contracts so they will be up for renewal on June thirtieth of next year all right now consultant is going to get their work done till September sometimes if you looked at these to see if the consultant came in and said you know what you all could do better with this than utilizing these companies the termination of contracts in what would be involved in that we have not worked with Siegel on these contracts so that we have provided them that their request information on each one of the contracts I can assure you though that everyone of these we've looked at pretty closely we are in an awkward place someone with the board of finance making decisions with the new governance body coming in with some of the work that's going on but we are absolutely looking at whether these are necessary weather or there's a way to do it differently and my hope is that twelve months from now will be able to have some very substantive conversations about that so you have you given all the contracts to the consulting firm then not just sees that are up for review but is this all of them that is under your wheel house we've received your request and we're working with them to make sure that we can get it answered some of the contract information somewhat hard to explain kind of like what we're talking about earlier but we're trying to get them everything that they've asked for so okay all right thank you thank Mr. Representative Cavenaugh you're recognized thank you Mr chair Jake on the connect your care I happen to notice that it's got a new expiration date of eight nineteen two thousand twenty two Y. as it got a different when everybody else is going to six thirty. I'm not sure that that's correct. We did have one contracted did have an eight nineteen expiration date but my recollection was that was not the connect your care let me look at that and if if it's okay with the chair I'd like to get back with you on where that is that's fine thank you that will be fine. Members are there any other questions or comments. Seeing none do I have a motion. I have a motion to have a second. I have a second. All in favor. Hi it imposed. Senate passes. Mr chairman items P.. These are recommendations from the state board of finance for the employee benefits division as it pertains to the state employee and retiree insurance insurance program on the second page of this packet you'll see a brief summary of the recommendations these include increasing member and retiree contributions increasing the amount of funding the status providing per member decreasing the wellness credit increasing the penalty for members not meeting the wellness requirements this will create a difference between those meeting the requirements in those not meeting the requirements eliminate on site wellness clinics and have members meet with their PCPs are requesting a LC set aside ten million dollars from restricted reserve or some other fund or funds for state employees and retirees in EV's EBT system through calendar year twenty two this request would be to be a separate individual request if a LC chooses not to approve these requests the state board of finance requested LC Fund the portion not approved from the restricted reserve fund or from an or other fund or funds as determined by a LC that's what's on the on the second page of that packet Mr chairman. Members are there any questions. Are there any comments. Senator Hickey you're recognized you missed Mr Boyd and I what I just mainly want to put this out there so today of course you all requesting thirty five million solely for the teacher's. But the recommendation is is that we keep ten million additional dollars in there for the state employees is that is that what you are saying so the. I mean because we have the all of that's on a hundred unallocated port a restricted reserves you know and we dealt with in the session so are you all gonna remember that also I mean because you all the ones that are bringing us the request so it's as much on you all as it is us and I say you all I'm telling you also Mr Walter the FNA. So that is that is the plan at this time okay all right well again I mean it's it's put out here you know to the legislature is recommendation and we appreciate that but again we're going to be expecting you all remember it because we all know that there is a hundred and I believe a hundred and thirty three five. That was was sitting in that unrestricted reserve amount for FY twenty twenty two and I will say that I understand I'm I'm asking for the thirty five million to come out in a flat FY twenty two also. So we've got or whatever it is ninety seven million dollars worth projects that will. Yesterday with Pierre and EBD today that's going to come out of there so and then you're requesting another team in. I heard this thing a minute ago about we're not not planning on requesting anymore money to come out of the from restricted reserve for the increase in the employees salaries I don't I don't see that that's going to be the case my deal is in here in a few months somebody's gonna be down here and asking for some money money for that so. I understand that we have a lot of money is for the school and to restrict into long term reserve. But as myself in a whole group of at least the senators and I know some of the House members also that we maintain those funds because. We are certain that whatever all this federal money stops that we're going to be in a different situation than than most people of scene down here we want to be prepared for that so I appreciate the recommendation but again that's on you all as much as it is on the legislature to not bring bring too many request to us yes Sir and and I appreciate that I understand certainly where you're coming from on it a lot of these were requests that were made on behalf of the board of finance because their charge is to set rates for calendar year twenty two so one of the questions in the thirty five million dollars I think was presented this seek the support of the General Assembly so that when they sit down to make rates of course on the public school side the deficit is significant it's taken several years to develop we can't fix it in one year but I think that with the the aside from the General Assembly that the support is there I think some of the harder decisions can be made so that we can go to the twenty two year with the plan and my hope is that with the help of the the consultants Siegel and with all of your input will be able to put together a structure in place so that we don't have to do this again. Everyone follow ups okay Mister Hester as far as this recommendation with the ten million being in fiscal year twenty two was there a certain time that you all looked at that you think that you would need would need the ten million by is that plan going to is it going to hit a certain deficit where we wouldn't be able to fall to pay claims that we projected that out or anything if we're projecting to the best of our ability one of the things you know with COVID we had a lot of people shut down that we have all come back we've had claims this act in ways that are very hard to predict so we're operating on predictions and assumptions of what's going to happen eighteen months from now you know as well as I do that can be a risky business but we're talking about a calendar year twenty two so when we would need that money if we need that money would be probably the first half of FY twenty three so October November of twenty two okay all right thank you Mr believe. Representative Cavenaugh you're recognized thank you Mr chair Jake can you just give me some information provided to me later if you don't mind what I'm looking for because I hear all kinds of numbers and I just want to get real numbers so I can get a better idea really what's happening on the public school employees can you tell me how much is actually paid by us you know I've heard numbers from four fifty to six ninety seven can we just find out what that number is in the end for the state employees can you tell me how much that we actually pay and I know you're saying it's four fifty up to five hundred but I want to know the actual amount we pay per active employee for all the money we sticking into benefits sure and we've got that information I can give it to you now we can go over it as you can imagine we can drown you numbers yeah and it doesn't have and the number you're going to give doesn't have that double numbers where we put money in and there's not a field position. So yes what what we've what we've been specifically asked to do because the board of finances ask the same question. If you get away from the differences in how we do this versus how we do that at bottom line how much are we give the state employee's how much are we giving public school employees we had that analysis we can provide yeah if you if you don't mind if you to send it to subcommittee and be great absolutely okay thank you so much. R. J. one question on that of it's my understanding that we the this state contributes for all the positions where their field or not is that correct up for if they are budgeted yes Sir yes Sir but on the school teachers it's only the school teachers are action there right it's only those employees who sign up for injuries you can't always get what I I made the same mistake and they're Polk folks who pointed out so. Okay thank you. Senate Chesterfield you're recognized well thank you Mr yeoman thank you J. very much I am concerned because I think we've all got a plethora of letters about this matter and I appreciate that thirty five million which is separate totally for school employees is that right yes so if the measure the request is approved my understanding is the money would be parked in effect over it Arkansas department education and your market schools of leave to help out with benefits right now in general revenue we spent a hundred and ten million dollars straight from general revenue into teacher health insurance public school employee health insurance this money would go to supplement okay but wished with that still keep was the second lowest in contribution. It will not affect how much as as far as with the state goes in contribution it would be a one year let it was so we might bump us up a little bit but I'm saying we compared it to I read a comparison where we are one of the second lowest in the amount we contribute to our employees is that correct that is correct of the surrounding states of the surrounding states I would we see that moving the yeah I don't that's natal okay there. All right there we of. But so I say that because we're second highest in the amount that our employees for. And the last thing that I saw and I know that we have got to deal with this huge deficit that has really been devastating for everybody my question is. If this is increased by five percent. How much do we increase the amount of salary listening to these people so this is for state employees that we're looking at for five percent how much do we and yeah we we're now talking about a minimum raise for. Are individuals we just heard from OPM. And that raises how much remind recommendation for performance increases with the three percent three percent so the folks are still gonna be two percent in the hole is that right well five percent increase on the amount you pay for your health insurance versus three percent of your overall salary so if you're making forty thousand dollars a year three percent of that verses that thousand or or however much you might pay for health insurance five percent of that and that's actually analysis that I want to get in the habit of doing annually as part of the ratemaking process and as part of the performance funding process just so that we can gauge who's paying what and how much when I saw Larry shaking you see it Mr chairman as ask questions of Mr Walter please go ahead ma'am. Why are you shaking your head. Why are you shaking your head I was shaking it yes use. The. The idea that he was referred to as young you have a much larger base that you're applying to the three percent two verses the five percent on just the amount of money they pay for their insurance so the the there you have to look at it in that direction not just to stop even though I got only a three percent raising your raising me five percent I'm not really losing two percent of my money is that what you're no ma'am. You'd have to look at what plan they're signed up for how much they get paid it would all come down to the individual we have a basically and it is free for the employee and I say free as long as you don't need it but need it you know very well known for its two thousand dollar deductible correct which is a free no snow and like I said if you don't need it if you don't need it is good right I guess I'm concerned and I hope that we will we will be able to mitigate the situation further. If we get more money or more money becomes available because this is really a hardship on our employees because we have we keep trying to raise their salaries. The raising salaries without raising benefits. Is not really getting them to where they need to be I couldn't agree more okay thank you thank you Mr. Hi Senator Irvin you're recognized. Thank you just quickly on your summary I just want to understand the numbers SO and on the wellness credit and the non wellness credit I it would be helpful so I'm just trying to track this so like if let's say you pay two hundred dollars a month five percent increases additional ten dollars right okay and then your reducing. The reduction in the wellness credit for Act as from fifty to twenty five dollars a month so that would amount to a twenty five dollar per month increase if you get well this which is to say if you went to the doctor last year instead of having a fifty dollar monthly credit so yeah I fifty dollar monthly credit we get you to hundred sixty dollars a month is what you would pay then you out but but a hundred eighty five off the two ten is we're at so if you're if you're paying two hundred dollars a month. Of under the current plan that would reflect the fact that you really should be paying two hundred and fifty dollars but you get a fifty dollar well this credit you're only paying two hundred right now we're going to lower that credit down twenty five dollars so in effect for the end user they're gonna be paying twenty five dollars more a month so it'll be two hundred twenty five dollars and then we would add the five percent increase. Okay. So that's that so E. so that's where you're fine I'm just trying to understand the savings I understand that the lowering it from fifty to twenty five the but I guess what I'm confused by is then adding a non wellness contribution of twenty five so the the idea there is we wanted to still get people to go to the doctor we still wanted to have a difference between the amount you pay if you go to the doctor if you get your wellness check and if you don't go to the doctor okay so in lowering that credit by twenty five dollars for the people who do go to the doctor we wanted to increase the penalty if you will of twenty five dollars a month for the people who do not go to the doctor okay so they're still gonna be a fifty dollar spread between the in effect what this does is give a twenty five dollar increase to everybody. Per month. Yes okay that's what I was trying to understand and then and not applies to the the person who is on the plan as well as their spouses it is not their family members it's the active employees whoever it whatever rates are planned they pick that's how much that they would pay that's who apply to would apply to retirees for example and others who don't participate in what about their spouses it would be just a twenty five dollar increase per payments so if you're on a family pan it would be a twenty five dollar increase for one family or an individual person to be a twenty five dollar for an individual okay well I I'm just I I I K. I I we can do this offline but I'm remembering that we didn't get the credit if you have yourself and your spouse for instance on the plan and only one of you went to the doctor than you but still wouldn't get it I don't remember how well that worked out okay what we can talk off line I just I just wanna make sure that the people that are beneficiaries of the plans have knowledge before they sign up yes as to exactly what's going to happen to them and that's why it's confusing because very made all these changes and our making more changes and so I don't I want them to be able to get the maximum benefit that they can but I think we need to be more clear about what steps they have to take in order to get the credit or you know doesn't apply to you or doesn't apply to you and your husband or does that apply to you your husband and everybody else on the plan those kinds of things are not they're not clear okay and given the size the amount of the insurance costs there's a lot of decisions that people are making that I just don't think they have enough information to make informed disagreed yeah thank you can you look at FSA's you look at premium versus basic there's a lot of big complicated decisions that we're asking our folks to make and and I often feel like we're not giving them that information so that's. That's a sore subject for me it's certainly some I want to look to work on. Senator Hammer you're recognized thanks Jake would you remind me refresh my memory how did you arrive at thirty five million be insufficient to get us through to the next. So that was a decision in part that was made because we were looking at the amount of money that we had to come up with the of EBD board before it was abolished under Act one thousand four did make recommendations where they had planned ask for thirty million dollars. If we get to the thirty five million dollar mark as far as a contribution from the General Assembly one time funding then there's ways in which we can make some of the changes which are very similar to what we're doing in the state side state employee's side with some rate increases that will bridge the seventy million dollar gap that was part of what the thinking was part of it also was making this request now prior to the end of the FY twenty one fiscal year so that you all could choose which fiscal year you felt like those funds should come out of. And what if you don't use all the thirty five million not that that probably will happen but I mean what would just what else so what if if we get to the end of counted twenty two and we only need ten million. One of the things about insurance is of course the rates go up five or seven or eight percent annually so my first response would be we if we don't spend in FY twenty two we will very likely needed in FY twenty three okay my hope is that we don't have to need it we don't have to ask for that something happens in the the projections are overly conservative but for purposes of making rates making plans I think that we all would agree that looking at it in a conservative light and being prepared for the worst is a smart way to go into the year so it's your position Mr Walters position that thirty five is going to be the ask that you'll need to get us through until we get all the. Because you said that the plan as it is now I just you know if we have to come back in six months I just would rather hear it now than here later have to do it all over again so that's what I'm asking do you feel like you can defend the thirty five number to get us through to where we're trying to get to based on what we know now in our current actuarial projections yes but we're in a strange time and six months from now things may change we may very well end up in a place where we thirty five million is insufficient okay Senator hammer of you know we're in the process of evaluating the The public school employee plan we finish the state Arkansas state employees are working on the public school employees and with the information we have in front of us right now the thirty five million we can we believe we can make it work with other things that we can make some changes to we're we have not made a decision we we met two weeks in a row on on this particular one and we will be meeting again next Tuesday will will be made until we can hammered out and they connect recommendation hopefully that recommendation will be coming before ale city and personnel on next month and I in July thank you. And Senator Elliot you're recognized. Thank you Mister chair Mister Leding do you have information on what. The state has under we know the amount the state has paid per year per teachers I'm asking right now or state employees it doesn't really matter what they have paid per year and how much this state has paid per year. And and how that how that compares to what we're asking what we're doing from the state right now agenda on the proposals so if you just look at raw numbers for example in FY twenty one the state will have contribute a hundred thirty million directly that's a hundred ten million in general revenue plus an additional twenty million from the Public School Fund. The minimum district contributes shins will be ninety four million dollars so combined that's two hundred twenty four million. Compare that over to the public school side. which is a hundred and eighty two million or fewer people. There's a ways and and I think a representative Cavenaugh is information which shall be distributed to the council can get into it her way so we're looking at it so apples to apples we can we can say from an employer standpoint how how much are we giving a state employee how much are we giving a public school employees. And and so so when do we get that information I'll be able to find I can go through it and find all that but I'm asking of you Senator telling me yes and if you can't I will be I should be able to that information is there is which is that it is up there but it's conflict. It's complicated well it's it there's there's some wrinkles they're getting to an apples to apples really unfair comparison takes a little work but if well that's lodging I understand that that that makes sense and I don't mind calling if I don't understand what you're sending me these mice my second question you said I wasn't sure what you were referring to but I thought you said when are we were talking about the amount that the state has been contributing over the years are B. and second lowest you were to speak by Senator Chesterfield and you said that was a blip I thought it wasn't clear to me so the one time or the thirty five million dollars and we contributed thirty five million dollars to the public school employees insurance fund I think her question was if we add that thirty five million second injured ranking. And my response by saying it's a blip and I apologize if it was a little flippant but that's one time money. And it wants and we're gonna go right back to the situation that we've been in there are longer term fixes that need to be put in place but when you look at all the surrounding states you look at all the employees were looking at and look at the magnitude of health care I don't think that thirty five million is going to move the needle we're not gonna move out a second or maybe third place. Okay. All right thank you. And my good friend your Stubblefield recognize Senator Stubblefield thank you Mr chairman. Larry you mentioned that we could we we know that the cost of medical care goes up somewhere around five seven percent year. Correct I think we've talked about that before the medical care is going up five to seven depending on whether it's a. The public school employees of the. the state employee's pharmacies going up about eight percent all both of okay currently we're expansion somewhere between three and a half and four percent solution right should we continue to express that for half or three and a half four percent inflation rate. Has that been factored into all these numbers. I don't know that it has I would be surprised because of the on the Millman who is our actuarial is been working on this for some time and it would just I don't know I don't know for a fact that they have updated that part of the information we're doing it it you know within our are forecasting but I don't know that they did it was in their estimates do you know. So it's more likely than not this is thirty five million will not be sufficient that True Jake. The thirty five million we a one year patch so if you look at that long term trends you look at medical inflation you add in just regular old place it on top of it. We're going to have to build some kind of a process where we regularly make commitments on behalf of the taxpayer to provide sufficient funding so none of that's been built into these acts were as far as I know it's all been built into it as far as how much money we will need I can certainly get with our actuaries and ask if they take standard inflation into account when they talk about medical inflation is that separate from our distinct from the inflation you're talking about or do we need to stack in standard inflation is certainly going to play a part. As well as regular inflation because all these things are going to go up if fuel goes up and everything else goes up. That's gonna be that's gonna be factored in yes Sir one where the other yes Sir Senator that will that will be a subject of Tuesday's meeting L. sharia that okay I thank you Mr chairman. Members are there any additional comments or questions. If not do I have a motion. seats sixty seven thank you Mr chair so I I guess. If the thirty five million is a one year patch. Are we looking at what it would take for more longer term sustainability and in particular the situation we have we ran into at least twice in my memory where we have those really high medical claim cost years that kind of. Sucks up some of the Unanticipated or or overruns unanticipated medical costs how much would we need to have a in a. Reserve fund to to kind of make sure we're sustainable going forward on top of this thirty five million. That's a great question and what I'd really like to do is work with you all to create a process that makes this a flat predictable and boring I don't want to continue the process that we've been in in which you referred to but doing so will I think require looking at how we as a state finance or pay for an ongoing cost. There are lines in our budget that we no go up every year. And as hard as it is for me to say as a former budget guy this might be one of them were as a process point of view we need to be clear and up front with everybody this is how much it's gonna cost this is how much the employer pays the employee pays this is how much we can manage around as far as Costco. But of. As far as as. Long term plans yeah that's absolutely something we're looking for and it's something that I think the the legislative consultant Segal is is looking at and what I think that'll be a really good conversation. So. I guess we'll probably get into that with with Siegel in the consultant as they as they're going through this this recommendation process but have you had any preliminary thoughts on what that. Reserve fund might might potentially be here you know of the the actors will say twenty percent so if we have three hundred million dollars in claims we should have sixty million dollars in the bank at any one point in time. That's one thing taking the next step to make sure that you we can look at eighteen months or two years out and be able to manage that balance so that we don't get it too high we don't get it too low we don't spend too much money when times are good so that we end up in a problem when times are bad that's going to be the challenge and that's something that I'm certainly looking forward to working with you all excellent thank you. Senator Hammer you're recognized thank you I want to ask you in it when you when you're meeting as the board or as a B. D. do you or have you done a comparison of what we do for state employees and for teachers in comparison to the private sector as far as what they do for their employees on their health benefits to do a comparison of the public sector against the private sector. The only person that we've really done in details looking at surrounding states and how they handle their publics employees public school and and state employees are not aware of any comparison we've done really with self insured or with fully insured plans as a self insured plan which is to say we don't have an insurance policy we don't have reinsurance we've really we pay all the bills we kind of have to operate in a way it's a little different than the Agnes of the world or or the insurance that a a private sector employer might use so we really try to compare ourselves with other the public sector self insured plans around in other states and that's okay except for we get in the comparison game as far as how we compare to other states a we should take a look at we talk off line because I think would be good for us as legislators if we were say as a public school teacher or as a state employee this is what you're getting in in the public sector but if you want over the private sector you may be better it may be worse but if we're gonna do comparisons I think would be good if we could have that information and we talk off line about how to get that but I think that be beneficial I I agree. Representative Cavenaugh you're recognized thank you Mr check something you just said Jake made my mind start click and so we're selfinsured but we don't have reinsurance correct is there a reason why we don't have reinsurance. It's not something that will we ask the insurance folks they feel like is something that is beneficial to us the instead I feel like the the general sense I've gotten is that if we manage our affairs more correctly will have more flexibility and more efficiencies in the long run by being a fully self insured. That might be a great question though to discuss as we move forward looking and all this and again I know when we're selfinsured you know we have the reinsurance and we did a good job at mention our claims but you know when that one year when it's facts you got that reinsurance account to help with that that spot because what I was going to curious okay thank you. Senator Elliot you're recognized thank you Mr these a big quick Who wants on who owes on the the finance board what are the positions. The. The auditor state the trademark thank you the governors on the board is general board is delegated chairmanship to me okay Dennis millions treasures with treasure the state Andrea Lea the auditor of the state sesenta Marshall who's the Arkansas Bank Commissioner Eric Munson who's the Arkansas securities commissioner of Thomas Chloe Connolly who was appointed of is a member of the general public of keys connect me who was appointed he is of general securities representative and jim Bob Britain appointed a commercial bank representative kilter appointed as the certified public accountant and Amy Fisher's representing the governor all. And and this is this is per are is that per legislation that we passed. If the law yes and now I'm where do you meet. Reporter where do you meet. We have been meeting and the victory building but since we have been we've increased our responsibility and a lot more emphasis on it we've been meeting in the Rockefeller building in that down on the lower floor of it which has a much larger meeting rooms it's over the public and it's announced just like the regular. Board of finance medias so in televise it to we've yet okay it's V. as an and so if somebody wanted to come to testify to the group they can do that right we've not taken public testimony at this time but we can certainly make information available to the board why would you take public testimony. So we've. I'm not aware of a great deal of request to do that but the short answer is we have to set rates for an open enrollment period that starts in October. At this well I've been as I I'm I'm asking because I've been asked about that question about not being able to testify so we have a I don't think we've asked the board if they want or third like to solicit public testimony that's certainly something we could do right now though they've come into this two months ago I don't think they knew there was a difference between public school state employees they have been at the bottom of a very steep learning curve they've done an incredible job of getting up to speed and come to terms is really really difficult questions so they could make recommendations like the one this before you today I so I am so I've got a I need to give somebody an answer so if somebody wants to testify before the committee they could do that. Thank you certainly open to the request. They have to drive to get there they need more than open to the request as of this person drives you know a hundred fifty miles they're gonna be open to the house that's all really is that the best answer you've got I use a public it's a public. We have we've not had a request for public comments at this okay so I didn't have an address to consider it I will let them know that they may come and you will let them testify then am I wrong. From. The members are there any other questions. Our comments. I see none. With that do I have a motion. I have a motion to I have a second. I have a second all in favor say aye hi. All opposed. It passes thank you Sir. Thank you good job today Jack. Hi Mister chairman of. The next item on the agenda are reports none of the reports require action if the committee has any questions about any of the reports we can certainly speak on them otherwise we can move on the supplemental with. Members are there any questions on the. Additional reports. I see none do I have a motion to accept. So moved that I have a second. And it passes I'm sorry all in favor. All opposed. Now passes. All right Mister chairman of our supplemental agenda item is a separate packets that everybody should have on there on the table this is this is a supplemental item because the item was sent after the committee deadline the committee will need to take up a vote to suspend the rules to take up this item. I have a motion and a second all in favor. It imposed. Senate passes. Our Mr chairman this is item a one on the supplemental agenda this is a supplement request from DFA the Department of Education Division of elementary and secondary Education Public School Fund for a restricted reserve fund transfer for fiscal year twenty twenty to their questions to transfer thirty five million dollars from the restricted reserve fund the department of education for the purpose of providing funds for public school employee health insurance program. Members do I have any questions or comments. And do I have a motion second I have a motion and second all in favor. All right any opposed. It It passes. And members and folks our next meeting is the twenty first of