Joint Budget Committee

Thank members go ahead and start taking your seats from and get started here. Back go ahead might make your way up to the front. I. I think he does okay members it's going grabber seats get started say thirty. Thank you Sir. All right with that chairs form. I first up on the agenda is B. one a special language subcommittee report dated February third two thousand twenty one not sure Senator Hester you're going to. Read three report. I am. So. First of all Senate dismaying we had some Sorry I was just a little bit behind we have some special language. Thank you come right back to me give me a minute. All right Sir. Are we gonna pass over be one of real quick in the removed to be to. Thank you Mr chairman I don't be too this is for reporting purposes only to the committee this is for the Arkansas state police regarding activity and condition of the uniformed police health insurance plan. Thank members with me questions on report. All right the any comments C. nine. Reviewed without objection B. three as chairman B. threes department of agriculture this is also for reporting purposes only it's the Arkansas forestry commission monthly fiscal an agency activities report. Thank you members we have any comments or any questions on the report. All right reviewed without objection. Mr chairman items B. four and five or both with the agriculture department for local food farms and jobs act annual report these reports for lengthy so we have copies available for any members who want to see them the required no action there for reporting purposes only. Thank you Sir members to waive any comments or any questions on items B. four B. five and again those are available for review if you'd like to see them just touch base the staff. All right C. nine will move on we're gonna roll back over to the one Senator Hester. You're recognized. Thank you members we had that and special language IT twelve bills the report were reviewed all recommended for approval and the bills were released from subcommittee to the Joint Budget Committee the special language in the four members on the report reviewed are recommended for approval to be amended into the corresponding bills in the amendment to release from the subcommittee to the Joint Committee the one. Issue that's arise since we've had special language was SP one fifty eight department of education. And I have had some. People ask that I pull out we talk about it separately or send it back to special language I don't know what the body wants to do it the. It has to do with the the ability to use a local tax as opposed to just for for maintenance and support of buildings rather than just the purchase of property for capital improvements. And I've heard a lot of discussion on this morning so I will I'm going to pull that out for further discussion but we'll just see if there's a motion to do anything differently than the move it for but I will pull that out to see if members want further discussion on that. Thank center so I think the motion is to to adopt special language report with the exception of item twelve the adrenaline have further discussion on twelve if members want to now then I will motion to move for okay all right Senator hammer I'm assuming yours is on everything but items will. Okay all right so I'm gonna wait till we get into the discussion so we have a motion to adopt a report with the exception of item twelve. I have a second. Three comments any discussion yes Sir if you get your bike there. To represent will present a question was that a second. Second okay all right. All right any discussion seeing none all those favor signify by saying aye those opposed reports been adopted never gonna take up item twelve and special language for. Turn displaying this was out I'm very insincere what This Is Senator hammers a proposal had very ancient see what he has to say adding catching before meeting so. I will. Senate Hannity when a **** my card again will turn it back over to you and then let you make comments. Thank my share with your help me out of rent a bit late I know we're trying to we're talking about where is it in all the paperwork please. Yet we do not have a copy of the engine it would have a copy of the report yeah. All right. With the chair like to explain for the benefit of all the members what it is or do you want me to do that or thank represented fights involved in this discussion to your I would chair like to handle it. But I mean I think the at the McGuinness's I'm I'm not completely familiar maybe I don't fully understand I think that's what we're trying to have discussion that this is more substance language that was put into special language in there may need to be a discussion about that being its own standalone bill it was something that we handle during pre budget meetings begin we've we've actually it's someone from the Department education was going to have a conversation about that or someone else involved you know that would be helpful but again if we're not prepared today but to have the discussion we can postpone it to later date I'd like to I'd like to request. That we postpone that discussion then to a later day we have the agency in here to be involved in the discussion I'm not curious who it is that as for to be pulled down and and I recognize Wellman Lynch center Hester but we haven't had a chance having discussions I'm just curious who motivated the discussion to have pulled them nothing to be graded and one thing if what if I could make recommendations let's have that disconnect because going to stain special language at this point because it's not been adopted as part of the report so if we came in at let's gear up and have that discussion special language next time that we may that be great thank Mr. Senator Hester and go with that okay. All right. Sure. I have members just so that we make sure we get through okay now actually have governor's letter number two just real brief for square comments on that so and Kevin can correct me when I am wrong but these are the request you know from the agencies that have been approved by the governor for DF Fund preparations my thought on this is if you don't mind please take a look at the items in this list and prior to us you know creating the legislation or having bill our draft that legislation let's have discussed many items that we may rather not even having a bill drafted for it's fairly lengthy and I look he looks like you're looking at one point four billion dollars in request but again these are D. F. under preparations or the L. G. I. S.. You're gonna pass over that that brings is to G. L. three animal turning over Kevin. Thank you Mr chairman. Governor's letter three this is a request for re appropriation bills. If the committee chooses to adopt this letter your staff we will draft these re appropriation bills as listed here in this report what reappropriation are bills that they allow agencies that have received funds and are currently working on projects to continue working on those projects as you know appropriations are only good for one year so of an agency or institution receives some money for any type of construction project or anything like that it lasts longer than one year they need to reappropriation to continue with that project these are no additional monies the with the purposes are all the same they can't change any the purposes and the amounts cannot be increased. Thank members you've heard an explanation we have any questions on governor's letter number three. Any comments. It was will the committee. We got a motion to adopt the second all those in favor signify by saying aye All opposed and it's been adopted members without objection we're going to take up item each personal level bit more time for discussion on item D. those are the the federal grant preparation request that we've we've been looking at our kind of waiting on that explanation department education to run a pass over those for now but we're gonna take those up after we cover I to me. Sir you're recognized thank you Mr chairman so we are on the Senate. Packet that's the S. enough right hand corner these are all the bills that are in joint budget committee these are the Senate Bills the first one is on page ten. In the Senate packet. On page ten the Senate bill one oh nine pure of Legislative Research yes no holes or. Right and okay. All right of. Senate Chesterfield you're recognized for a question or comment. Just remove my hold on on the budget for the Department of Human Services. Okay we've got I think thank you very much. All right so back to Senate bill one oh nine we have any questions. Any comments. Seeing none we have a motion to pass in the second all those in favor signify by saying aye those opposed it's been adopted thank you Mr chairman that takes us to page sixteen and the Senate packet. On page sixteen Senate bill two hundred Arkansas Three Rivers this has positions over authorized personnel. On page seventeen Senate bill two oh one south Arkansas community college is ready Mr all right members with any questions or comments and said bill to a one. I have a motion we have a second all those in favor signify by saying aye those opposed our motion carries Senate bill two oh two U. APV is ready. Members we make art we have a we have questions or comments seeing none of motion to pass we have a second all those in favor signify by saying aye those opposed motion carries Senate bill two oh nine As You Newport. Any comments or questions on Senate bill two oh nine sing number of a motion we have a second all those in favor signify by saying aye those opposed motion carries still on page seventeen Senate bill two ten As You BB any questions or comments. Sing number got a motion to pass a second all those in favor signify by saying aye those opposed motion carries the chairman Senate bill two eleven Hey UAMS has a position over authorized personnel. The Texas to page nineteen. On page nineteen. Senate bill two fifteen university of central Arkansas has two positions over base personnel Senate bill to sixteen south Arkansas community college two positions personnel Senate bill two nineteen your available eight positions personnel. German on the last page on page twenty. Senate bill two twenty two you have a community college at Morrilton is ready all right thank you do we have any questions comments seeing nine we've got a motion to pass the second all those in favor signify by saying aye those opposed motion carries Senate bill two twenty three you have a community college at Batesville thank you any questions or any comments. Seeing none we got a motion to pass in the second all those in favor signify by saying aye those opposed motion carries and. Senate bill two twenty four essay you tech one position over authorized personnel. Mr chairman the Texas to the House package. In the House packet on page one House Bill ten seventy six the oil and gas commission is now ready I thank you any questions or any comments seeing none we've got a motion to pass in the second all those in favor signify by saying aye those opposed motion carries on page nine in the House packet. On page nine house bill eleven forty four the school for the blind and deaf is ready thank you any questions any comments seeing none we've got a motion to pass in the second all those in favor signify by saying aye those opposed motion carries. Sherman Texas to page eighteen. Page eighteen in the House bracket. House Bill two of twelve seventy one University of Arkansas at little rock is ready I thank you any questions any comments seeing none we have a motion to pass in the second all those in favor signify by saying aye those opposed motion hearings house bill twelve seventy two you have a community college at hope Texarkana thank you any questions any comments seeing none we got a motion to pass to get a second all those in favor signify by saying aye those opposed motion carries still Page eighteen twelve eighty four northwest Arkansas community college to positions of authorized personnel. On page nineteen house bill twelve eighty five you have a customer community college any questions or comments seeing none the gun motion to pass we've got a second all those in favor signify by saying aye All opposed motion carries. The chairman house bill twelve eighty seven Arkansas tech. Is ready all right thank you I have. Members of any questions on house bill twelve eighty seven. C. nine we have a motion to pass we've got a second all those in favor signify by saying aye All opposed motion carries still Page nineteen house bill twelve eighty eight As You may sell any questions or comments on house bill twelve eighty eight seeing none of got a motion to pass to get a second all those in favor signify by saying aye those opposed motion carries house bill twelve eighty nine a issue Mountain Home as one position over authorized personnel. House Bill twelve ninety Arkansas northeastern college thank you to have any questions any comments seeing none we've got a motion to pass and got a second all those in favor signify by saying aye All opposed motion carries. In the House packet on page twenty house bill twelve ninety one Henderson state university does have any specialized special language house bill twelve ninety two southern Arkansas university. Is ready all right and any questions or comments on house bill twelve ninety two sing nine. The Committee we have motion to pass we have a second all those in favor signify by saying aye those opposed motion carries house bill twelve ninety three you have a Fort Smith. Any questions or comments on house bill twelve ninety three seeing none we got it motion do pass we got a second all those in favor signify by saying aye aye those opposed motion carries house bill twelve ninety four a issue Jones Burrel biosciences institute thank you any questions or comments on house bill twelve ninety four seeing none of motion to pass to get a second all those in favor signify by saying aye those opposed motion carries house bill twelve ninety five U. of a Phillips community college any questions or comments on house bill twelve ninety five seeing none we've got a motion to pass we've got a second all those in favor signify by saying aye All opposed motion carries house bill twelve ninety six you a community college Richmond any questions or comments on house bill twelve ninety six seeing none we got a motion to do pass we've got a second all those in favor signify by saying aye those opposed motion carries house bill twelve ninety seven East Arkansas Community College any questions or comments on house bill twelve ninety seven seeing none of we've got a motion to pass we have a second all those in favor signify by saying aye aye those opposed motion carries House Bill thirteen oh seven were on page twenty one house bill thirteen oh seven you have a Pulaski tickets for positions of authorized personnel House Bill thirteen over eight Ozarka college has one position over authorized personnel House Bill thirteen oh nine national park college is ready any questions or comments on house bill thirteen oh nine seeing none we've got a motion to pass but got a second all those in favor signify by saying aye all those opposed motion carries as chairman to more on page twenty one House Bill thirteen ten Black River technical college two positions over authorized personnel and the last one house bill thirteen eleven north Arkansas community college college is ready any questions comments on house bill thirteen eleven seeing nine we got a motion to pass to get a second all those in favor signify by saying aye All opposed motion carries our members that's going to bring us back to item duty in your packet. I will go ahead just bring up department of ed let me explain kinda where they've gotten to on these two to grant request. Maybe I can just go ahead recognize yourself for the committee and you're welcome to Begin presentation. Johnny key department education. Greg Rajasthan education. Of so. We understand that to you all ask for us to come back with a call to let you know about our plans for how we intend to spend the fifty five point eight million dollars stay set aside from the answer to funding this was part of the corona virus response and relief supplemental appropriations of these funds are supplemental to the original ESR funds that was passed as part of the cares act you all have already helped us considerably with the over five hundred million dollars in the appropriation so that we can begin providing the the funding to the school districts. A there are a number of needs that we will be targeting for this fifty five point eight million dollars the most urgent of which is something that I've mentioned before when we established the covert emergency leave for teachers last semester added the cares Act of the the money we had set aside for that was fifteen million dollars we are also set aside funds and distribute funding for schools to help offset some of their needs on food service. At the end of all the accounting and all the leave that was submitted we needed additional four point six million dollars of that funding was not available from the old cares Act we would like to use four point six month million of of this Esther to funding to help offset that that will close the books on the code leave from last semester and districts now or moving forward adopting their own type of cover emergency leave using their ESR funds or their answer to funds. We also proposed to spend up to twelve million dollars on a state wide strategy for mental health and behavioral support one of the things that we I has been blatantly obvious out of this code would time is a the impact on the mental health of our students of the behavioral health social emotional health for students we were proposed to. Further the work that we already started on the statewide behavioral and mental health model to help support schools in learning how to deal with the trauma that to students face at all developmental stages but specifically the trauma in the mental health issues that are being manifested as a result of code also support for counselors. This would be support for school counselors really helping with the issues of specifically depression anxiety and grief. They're not this would not be met to report put them in a place of Psychologists or other professionals but to help them deal with those types of situations that can acutely occur right there on the campus of with their students and and know how to help deal with that and provide the best support for those students moved forward. We also proposed to set aside up to thirty million dollars and spend that to address unmet student needs and address the learning gaps. In that bucket we were looking at for Primary areas one early childhood support partnering with Arkansas PBS and DHS to establish a statewide pre K. curriculum and academic support we had great success with Arkansas PBS during the last the end of last year as they shifted to help us recover some of that learning and through their programming and but we want to build on that success in the increase that partnership with DHS. Rise Arkansas that's a reading initiative providing additional support to further reading the student teachers are seeking to achieve proficiency in the science of reading also creating a network of certified academic language therapists costs there they are that's what they're called C. A. L. T. S. and building that network to specifically address the deficiencies in the issues that students have related to dyslexia and related disorders expanding our digital CT course offerings with courses that can lead to industry recognized credentials is another important aspect of this up to thirty million dollar expenditure and then district support because these funds can be obligated through September thirtieth of twenty twenty three a so we don't want to get in a big hurry on spending everything here because we don't know the ramifications of coved and what the impacts are going to be moving forward we do expect that the ripple effect will be with us for some time we want to have some of these funds set aside so that we can provide a support to district as they determine and and discover new challenges that they're facing our this is similar to what we did with when we set aside some of our S. R. one funds specifically for the personal protective equipment in a number of districts have taken advantage of what we set aside back on the supply chain was not completely filled out and they were having trouble getting orders in we were able to step in and and assist them because we had some funding set aside for that up to five million dollars would go to teaching academies of these teaching academies would focus specifically on a special education increasing the number of of our teachers that want to pursue special education certification or endorsements. And the crew and creating an academy for online teaching endorsements you all heard from your teachers it is definitely up a shift in the operating way thinking when you have a online. Media online class or number of classes that you're teaching in we expect just because of again was ripple effects you code of that there will be a demand on going demand for our traditional public schools to have some type of online teaching and we would partner with our institutions of higher education in order to accomplish that in an area continuing our state wide strategy for student engagement drop out prevention or engage Arkansas initiative has been very helpful so far in identifying students who have not been engaging they've they've not been attending school on site but they also have not been attending school remotely and identifying the challenges that those families in the student's face something that we believe will continue and we're closing up to five million dollars set aside for that continuation of that work. Of Mister chairman that that is a description of what we're seeking to with the ESR funds we also have your funds and I was a separate item on the agenda so I'll stop with answered C. if there any questions and it will move ahead with dear all right thank you just to recap and we do have a request we can get you have to hand out I guess in general but I'm gonna try to run through to make sure I understood and kinda not your head yes I'm wrong but so code leave is four point six million mental health is twelve million I met student needs thirty million and that includes PBS rise language therapist digital CT and then district support and then the teaching kadam is five is that right to the use is about to fifty two roughly right don't miss anything in that no no up to five or up to those amounts yep because it obviously they are. Difficult to pinpoint at this point so the the total if you're totaling it up it does total more than fifty five point eight million but we try to leave some flexibility in there for the unknown costs at this point judge in members and just so we are only talking about you know the first request and so that you S. remote saying that right yes on that those funds and so if you're in the queue right now you're trying to ask about the second one coming up wishes take ourselves off the queue and we're gonna plenty time to discuss that but I don't want them trying to jump forward and answer questions all right with that I'll turn it over the rips in spring you're recognized for a question. Good morning thank you Mister chair good morning doctor good morning how are you doing well looks like we're not gonna be able to do are Even added Roman elementary this year I regret that that's a favorite of mine every year yes I would just like to ask the question you've indicated the different areas that the funding is going to go to do you have you establish criteria. For how you're going to war these funds to the District of different districts and if so are they in writing and may we have a copy of those criteria K. no we do not have those are the of the dentist this money is designed to address specific needs but those needs are also being met by the five hundred million dollars it districts are receiving that are reimbursement so they have the opportunity to make a set those priorities and when they issue or when they spend those dollars then they. Certify to us what they spent those on a may request the reimbursement so that so that's that's where the districts will be getting the the bulk of their funding okay so let me make a follow up procedure man so let me just make sure so they will be developing the different knees in the areas that you've identified and then they have to submit to you their request for so it's going to be on a reimbursement basis these that's correct and and this is because this is an extension of what was already established in the first answer round of funding we already have those in place we've established those applications based on the federal requirements and the the buckets that the Congress set aside as being the areas of greatest need okay so VOL one board the subject so school districts than already have all their plans the and. Within their own specific district is that what you're telling me and then based on their plans they're able to utilize the funds that you have available for them what if if what if there's been some districts of contacted me to say that of that they've submitted a what is your response if they've submitted requests board of funds and they've not been received in and been told that there are no funds available what is your response to that. I would have to know which funds they're asking for at this point because I'm not aware of any districts that have. Might have have asked us for funds that were not available except for the code emergency leave and there were districts that were notified that we had exceeded it expended all of the code emergency leave of that have been allocated previously that's what we're asking for the additional four point six million and that will completely up. Get everybody caught up missed the chair I promise this is less one all right so what what is what does the covert relief fund consist of what can you be reimburse with respect to that particular fund what are the areas of reimbursement. Media. Are you are you talking about the coded a merger C. lever you talk about the broader categories of Esther fund I'm not sure I'm just repeating what you say it so I'm not sure what that means either address the code leave the emergency call would leave was for teachers that had to be quarantine or were identified as positive and had to be out of school not just teachers but school employees of the that had to be quarantine or had to be home or away from school because of code so they retire close contact or they were a positive case of a we're granted up to ten days of emergency leave funded by the cares Act of districts that submitted in December there were four point six million dollars worth of claims that we're not able to be met in the that's what this will cover. And if we can do so just clarification I think on an even maybe for myself but not everyone qualified for S. or funds running there were certain school districts and then going back to think represented garner's point from maybe one of the prior meetings and so this you know. The school district at that received the full bill of what they needed and ask for funds or was allocated remain a lot of this is going to go to school districts that were outside of that. The bigger five hundred million dollar thing I think there was one charter school that did not receive because of their tile this was distributed by Congress run the title one formula so because this title in Formula some schools I received more per pupil than others and they are in your right direction garner was working with some school districts that's why we believe really set aside some of that up to thirty million because there may be some of those need to come up and and are not appropriately funded and we would have the opportunity to review those if Yeah there's been two charges that have been released of S. refund so far even part of the first amount it's been disseminated out hasn't been fully in the utilized by school district so this is an amount but we do need to be you know paid careful attention I think that's what you're saying going to do at those districts that didn't receive the higher amounts and where they're short on funds because they didn't receive the bigger ball that and we have a yes that is fair and when we have also just for future reference with binding ministration seeking additional K. twelve funding so an S. or three if you will then we've made sure the to CCSS so in others to know that you know in Arkansas there are some school districts that the title one formula is not maybe the the best formula for meeting all the needs that that they're facing and and I'll just say the side on pretium what you're doing with the on the mental health side of it Are we finished Representative. Okay. Representable in. You're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman of Mr sector limit I have three questions if I may Mister chairman. Is this is the five hundred fifty eight million we reticent recently received this is fifty million fifty five million because of this correct yes Sir okay on the own own own the four point six million that takes care of any outstanding requirements to to re fund re reimburse districts for the lady. That I understand you correctly that now that burden is going to fall on each individual district to deal with the leave as they see fit yes they can use the a portion of of their what they receiving from the five hundred million dollars in Esther two or if they have remaining funds for measure one they can use those funds to provide a similar title you know just being left hung out to come up with their own funding it right can okay the third question Mister chairman. The twelve million of we wrote relative to of mental capacity were relative to counselors hello how are those do you know exactly in this you may have to come back with this these cams counselors dealing with the anxiety the depression in that time funding relative to the student body throughout the state yeah and that's that's a great question it is probably something I would need to. The thirteen. To get the information for you on that if it varies from district to district and obviously our counselors are working really hard on these types of things but it just creates wherever students might have been having issues this covert situation has intensified those in many cases so what we what we're trying to do is create additional supports for them but we're happy to bring that to the information back to you okay okay nobody's been relaxed Point or we've got a outsourcing any of that or any districts L. sourcing to bring in counselors that are specifically trained perhaps the deal with this type of pandemic Well right to deal with anxiety in that time. You know I think as part of a districts Support system for their students there maybe districts are probably our districts that are doing that I do know that you'll districts when they have a very tragic situation very point time of death of a children a classmate's death of a teacher some of those very tragic events that have happened in the last several months they do bring in extra sessions outside resources but those are for those very specific the part of points in time to help. Students cope with that loss but that so what we would be looking at is partnering with other experts in the field you know we we would look for higher education would look for other entities that are out there that you know we will bring together and determined along with their counselors and teachers educators what is it that you need from the state that that can be of a broad support and safety net for these professionals. Mr I will recommend the department for their planning and development of how these funds are expended one of my greatest fears we have this tremendous inflow of billions of dollars into the state five hundred and fifty eight million here is that is being used wisely and not feel comfortable that you all are making that effort and I appreciate that and thank you Mr chairman and some question. If we can't I'm recognized Senator Elliot first because she's been the queue for a while then I'll circle back and get you centered flowers. Thank you Mr chair security on the on that very first item of the with the district leave do you a I guess this is the will you I keep hearing after we put a lot of emphasis on every school district have enough personnel policies group the oftentimes they're not involved and if when this lead policy is set or whatever they have now I guess this is just a request since we did tell them to have the personnel policies group encourage them to involve the people from the personnel policies group because that's not happening in a lot school districts and we're going to have believe that everybody are is is has the voices heard that's going to be very helpful the I'm not making sense to you distrust request if the if you can though I mean that that's. That would be our advice and encouragement and that's specifically what throughout this process we're going back to the ready for learning committee so we we of encouraged and strongly that to me. That districts involving and get seek the voice of these committees that's what they're there for an and one must be met and and I ask a great and Mister Rogers and in that we talked about that a bit as well and people were very happy to know they could call you. You for not working out to to get some help my my second question has to do with that the third item here addressed in the learning gaps out such I want to be sure I understood what the learning gap money here just for early childhood will that go beyond that. I took the bait Bonser dress that gap. Well if it would go beyond that through some of the other I mean the district support that that's a very broadcast okay so you are it It could apply there as well but you know what our our our goal will be is to build on some of the work that we did with we have a guiding coalition made up of educators principals from all of the state and and they're looking at what are those essential standards and and how can we create not curriculum but how can we create the supports and resources for educators all of the state to access and and. Determine how to best meet the needs of those students okay all right thank you Mr. Thank you Senator flowers you're recognized thank you. Secretary. The school district. And by annexation Dollaway school district is under state control and as such you are the school board. So how are you involving yourself and the Department in the decisions that are being made in terms of use of these funds in those state control school districts. Thank you for the question senator Stacy Smith deputy commissioner is Is overseeing the unit office of a coordinated support service they are on site daily in those districts are you have been in those districts supporting those specifically pine bluff and We have. You're working with superintendents to bring those ideas and those needs to us and determine how to those funds need to be spent and the the I mean it's it's a. Daily interaction that we have with them so we're very involved. So are you personally reviewing these up recommendations or the plans that they're bringing to you as the school board yes I sign off on every one of those and the school board packet just like a of a traditional school board would. Okay and so and also like you know you indicated schools have a applied in use the size Bennett been reimbursed do you have a list I don't know if that's on the desk of the members are not like to see a breakdown of how these funds have been distributed to each of the different school districts including the ones under your state control I if I can jump in real quick on that center flowers that I think it's actually going to be a request is made with Kasich of this and and and so what I mean out I just go and say I think what we like to see is you had a certain amount of ESR funds one ESR funds to amount that's been requested for reimbursements I'm just trying to call it up in and how much is remaining because you had some schools of a fully expended some schools that have barely scratched the surface on expenditures and I think that would help us knows. It would help us know you know kind of what's happening and if we need to encourage our districts to be come a little bit more aggressive in seeking those funds are utilizing those funds and that sort of thing just bring some awareness I'm I'm saying that something that you all be we're happy to but I think that covers I think we're gonna cover that here just a few minutes we can get through the agenda Senator flowers thank you yes ma'am all right up next is Center hammer. Thank you Mr what was the cut off date on the four point six million that you used in order to close the books on that part. December eighteenth okay that was the last day of school before the break. All right so anything after December eighteenth any teacher after December eighteenth is a going to be considered in that and did you happen to tabulate to see how many that included. Four years had drawn within the the last that was a hard line on December eighteenth that had been what we would requested from the cares that committee back in the fall and so there was nothing collected after December eighteenth okay. and are you sending that money to the school specifically for those teachers that had used or personal leave because in that gap where the money was not available they had use or personal leave that they're gonna be restored that. There should not have been any point of during the school year where they would have had to use personal leave within the ten days if they exceeded the ten days and then that may of they may have had these personal leave but the we we're covering the. that up to ten days specifically for code issues okay and then on the mental health. Twelve million counselors are pretty well overloaded now as it is because they have to do so many things that have been added to him over the years you know like down in my area we've got to counseling clinic what was your thought processes as far as identifying the twelve million given the factor a lot of providers in the community that are providing mental health services to the schools already and what is it that the twelve million is going to do that the providers that are in the community are not able to do now and you know bill under our kids or other mechanisms of billing. So the intent here would be to design a state wide support model professional development a a a system not just for counseling but for behavioral issues of the whether we well as some districts have adopted PBI S. so I'm not saying that it's going to be a statewide PBI S. but to get some type of multi tiered system that would provide the supports this this would not be paying for services from counseling entities of this would be development of of a system within the state that all districts would have access to in one and all this is going to be money that's going to be reimbursed not advanced so they will have to provide the services and see cream by pursuant for all these funds is that correct well the the the funds that they are receiving of the five hundred million that is allocated to the districts yes they would have to front the cost and then submit to for reimbursement all right and at the last question is the plans that you're talking about seem to be in the process of being developed as far as what the intent of what the money's going to be used for how will we as legislators have it brought back to us to say this is what the final. Approach in these plans are final developed how do you plan on feeding that back to us I read that into what center Dismang just said as far as a periodic report to you all okay so that not just the spending of the money but also the development of the plans for the the state set aside just like an account owner hammers other I mean there's the language out there that's that's hopefully going to assist them in the development of something that's very much needed in this uniform for at least guidance that could be established in so we can circle up that later also okay thank you I saw members we have just a few more minutes here not we I think we really do want to try to get through this represent bring or do you have something new. I believe thank you Miss thank you Mister I think I do because I have a three question but I think the two of those questions have already been answered I just wanted to S. O. Secretary key about of whether or not any of the funds would be utilized postal facilities like upgrading or you know they have some type of of process that they can of make the air flow within certain schools better for the students And when you know our floors of a certain level I think of their learning is better achieved when that's taking place so there any funds that will be set aside for that in any of those districts represent Springer that is one of the significant changes under Esther to where Congress added language specifically to allow for upgrades to heating ventilation and air handling systems and that is part of of what the level expenditure of the five hundred million dollars. But I didn't hear you say anything about that and you we don't have anything set aside here in in these funds the these those or or the eligible expenses for the districts to engage in but we would not have any in this part that we're talking about here yet again so each district's been allocated a specific amount of money established based on title one they can utilize those funds under all these guidelines one of them being in this age fax system updates or whatever so but it's far as them directing editing that's out of their control they just have to make sure they're spent on a proper categories that that's correct okay all right represented love. You're recognized. Thank you Mr just a click for a quick clarification term. The Kobe leave so after the ten days did you say that teachers must take annual leave or on a date and they have a option the reason why I'm asking that question is because I will take for instance my son school. The fifth grade his hand multiple weeks in which you know either somebody's hand exposure date you know they say Hey for this week the classes out so how is that really dealing with in regards to teachers just real quick so what I want to do I want to keep this to this request and I mean I've got policy questions I want to ask too but I I want to if we can set that aside okay we've got a time at the end of this we can circle back up with the we're within five minutes of need to wrap things up so folks can make it to committee because that's not gonna be changed anything that we do here today on this particular action so but if we have if we can do we have any other questions. On of this federal grant appropriation request. All right I think what we like to do and we'll try to wear this correctly so we're gonna make a recommendation that we adopt the request out however I think it would we would like to see a listing of the amounts allocated to the schools and how much has been expended in both as for one and ask for to the course of that carries Ford there's a separate part thereof this fifty five million it's not specifically allocated and just seeing him in you've you've outlined how you would like to spend the dollars and just ask that plays out if they can be a part of that report that we need to be monthly and made to the beer committee of either a LC or Joint Budget whoever's you know in meeting at that point we have to do that it is any questions on that is that clear enough motion. Okay. Senate take you're recognized. Yes Sir one one additional thing with that I would like that that the report goes to peer would also be included to go to the house and Senate Education cheers yeah I'm sorry about that thank you. All rights will add in in that motion also to the house and Senate education shares. All right we've got a motion we've got a second. All those in favor signify by saying aye or House Bill. All right motions been adopted with the language regarding reporting added Senator Hickey you done okay. We're gonna try to get through the second the preparations we're gonna turn over quickly the all it you kind of hash out. So this year two is the extension of the governor's emergency educationally program Congress gave governor's wide latitude here but one of the the the urgent need for the department is a million dollars for the Arkansas school for the blind in Arkansas school for the death of their deferred maintenance is considerable and they have significant needs in the HVAC of HVAC systems there so that some have even exceeded their useful life so we're moving forward would like me for the million dollars allocated there two and a half million dollars to support computer science in computing initiative specifically looking at creating a computer science teacher academy over the next two years that would help the development of create more teachers to meet the needs of districts providing computer science to their students. these next two items are in conjunction with to the items I have previously mentioned the governor has is looking at five up to five million dollars up for the mental health initiative that we talked about so it's really up compounding the money that might be available there and for pre K. to be matched with those Esther to funds for the partnerships with DHS in Arkansas PBS and again allowing of if needed some set aside to provide additional support for designated schools again those schools we talked about earlier that may be getting short because of the title one for. That's a thirteen point three seven eight million is the total that is allocated for the gear to program. Yeah and so if we can go and get a copy of that line of this and and and the you know the prior listing if we can provide that staff will have that sent out to the members so in in this is also the part of money because I know there's some need for public or private schools that fell outside of this room or the other five hundred eighty five million this is the funny Committee lies correct they actually Senator there's a additional twenty two and a half million okay that is separate it's it's it's attached to gear that's why you get into the total thirty six yes okay perfect all right members we have any questions on the gear to funding the preparation request. Seeing none we've got a motion to adopt the same risk reporting structure that we talked about in the in the previous all those in favor signify by saying aye All opposed our motion carries at thank you all for a presentation today being thorough with that members do we have any other business seeing none enjoy your committee so we're Jr.