ALC-PEER

Jerseys a quorum who will call the meeting to order. It was actually of my co chair Representative all to those time to chair today and she came in and swapped the the the name tags since it's my last time to. Your dish Committee so that didn't matter to me but I appreciate it or Representative all appreciate staff and all that they've done appears been a committee that I'm sure don't since I joined the Senate and also expressed my appreciation to all the agency people who appeared appear before us and with that we will go ahead and get started with the agenda and Mr perish if we will go to item be. Thank you Mr section B. R. the cash appropriation increase request the first item on the agenda is a letter from the capitol zoning district commission this is requesting please appropriation by two thousand The New spent thirty will allow the commission to spend proceeds from civil funds letter notes request to establish an appropriation for the activity with included in their budget requests for the next biennium I spoke with the Department learned that these funds will to supplement the commissions M. and expenses and there is a computer replacements court reporting fees and their share of administrative costs. The next item B. two is a letter from the department of Veterans Affairs it's request increase appropriation by thirty five thousand The New spent thirty will allow the department to spend a donation from the office of the Attorney General settlement funds to support veterans. Next item B. three is a letter from the northwest technical institute is requesting Peace preparation eight hundred fifty thousand any spent twenty will allow the department to I'm sorry will allow the school to purchase offer licenses for a petition for a training program in the I. T. field the program is funded through grants from the Arkansas center for data sciences and the Office of skills development. Sure those of the cash requests. The questions on any of those items. It's not the state reviewed by our backup we do have I didn't take care of this to start with we do have a supplemental agenda and you've got a copy of that and we. Will they get a motion to suspend the rules to consider this supplemental agenda. I have a motion I have a second discussion all in favor say aye. Lows NO motion carried so we will add that item to the agenda. Now Mr will move to the approval items which or agenda items C.. Thank you Mr the first section C. one or the various temporary appropriation request. The first item is a letter from the mansion Office of the Courts is see when a this is requesting creek the preparation by one hundred forty nine thousand. this questions to restore spinning authority after preparation was used to buy personal protection equipment for state courts. The next item is a letter from the if an eight administrative services division this is requests increase appropriation by thirty five thousand any speeding thirty will allow the department to make grants to domestic violence shelters this program is supported by a twenty five dollar court assessment on those convicted of domestic abuse or respondent on a permanent order of protection entered by a court. The next item is a letter from DHS division of aging adult and behavioral health it's request to increase the preparation that three million ninety nine thousand any spinning authority will allow the department has been funds in the state's four crisis stabilization unit operations the user support Budget Revenue but funding for this request to come from a transfer from the restrictor Reserve Fund and that request to transfer funds later in the agency. Next item is a letter from department commerce division of workforce services it's request to increase the preparation of forty six million it is B. thirty will allow the division to be increased expenditures due to covert nineteen letter knows the division has increased action by two hundred eighty six employees and increase IT contacts are under contract to accommodate the cares and lost wages programs. The next item is a letter from department public safety Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement training it's requests increase appropriation by twenty five thousand he's been in forty will allow the commission to assist beneficiaries of fallen law enforcement officers in the funding come from a rainy the transfer the committee will review later in the agenda. Next item is for the department of labor licensing this is request increase preparation by ten thousand it is being three will be used for two extra help positions that we transferred to the Department shared services section according to the last paragraph in the letter the positions would be transferred after approval from the personal from the personal subcommittee for the committee's information those position transfers are not in the personal agenda today a report requested off the personal mansion. Sure those are the the three appropriation quiz any questions on item C. one. Si number eighty four. Thank you Mister of possibly to stay up. Is there any reason is three million nine hundred ninety nine thousand. Is there anything in legislation or anything that's. Specific about that number so that didn't have to be four million. That we know of. Mr bleed and Mister white if you will both. Identify yourself for the record please and you can respond and of the gentleman Jake please give the office a budget no Sir that was the amount that was requested by the agency and I think it's a more accurate number that reflects the needs of the programs there's nothing specific about that a follow up with the token of one other thing of course most all this course for advocates of the C. issues however have we done in the a detailed analysis of what this is I mean there's not to make sure that this is needed imprudent who who always been through that just to. To check out this fiscal part of it. J. A. on the director for aging the federal services with DHS the funding will allow us to sustains the issues to the remainder of this fiscal year we have two point five million in funding a part of which was required to pay off expenses from FY twenty and then this this funding this amount will let us continue to fund them at full at the full reimbursement rate for the remainder of it this year but what twenty one okay and Mister chair I guess that everybody does know that you'll have to have a supermajority in AOC. To actually passes also senses will come out of the not this part but the restricted reserve fund it's a later so okay thank you. Any other questions thank you John any other questions if not this is an approval item I would enter entertain a motion to approve items in C. one I have a motion and a second any discussion. All in favor say aye. Posebno motion carried those items are approved removed items C. two. Thank you Mr see to or the care the preparation request. For silencing to a is a letter from the department of labor licensing this is requesting creeds appropriation by four hundred fifty thousand we need to be thirty will allow the department to complete a platform for multi agency law licensing according to where the platform will accept applications and renewals online with the unified customer account across multiple entities within the cabinet and we have twenty four hour access and reduce face to face exposures with citizens in state employees the next year's request for appropriations in the supplemental agenda this is the agenda this outside your regular gender. And submerging the eighty one is a letter from the if a disbursing officer it's requests increase appropriation by three hundred million for contingencies beneath forty. What is the letter the state has until December thirtieth to encourage ventures against care funding or forfeit and spend funds letter knows the Congress is expected student deadline however if there is no extension this continues the preparation will be used to sweep unspent cares funding into the unemployment insurance trust fund. Thank you Mr first I think the letter does exploration lines that but Mr believe is here if if anyone has any questions. Suite nine. Senator Bob you're recognized well I just have a brief questions about both these so. On the on the first four hundred fifty thousand dollar question I'll go ahead not fronts and voted against both these and the cares Committee and lost so I won't take too much time provide a vote on item one I don't know if Mr blade once respond for labor licensing not questions during the cares that committee where that this is something that should be done Covin or not. Senate putting these licensing this platform together should be done no matter whether we had killed or not so I feel like we're. Using our cares Act funding improperly lack of raised also on the cyber security proposal that was approved by the cares that committee so why why are we trying to use cares Act money for this appropriation as opposed to budgeting it just like we normally like we should for IT infrastructure. Check the DFA office of budget and I don't know if anyone from labor licensing is here to answer the question so I will do my best but if there's anything I can't get to the the the Committee. I will certainly follow up on it. Identify yourself for the record please yes yes Sir can Anderson CEO for labor laws you're recognized respond. Yes Mister bond In principle I agree with you is it this should be something this done on an ongoing basis were smaller agency and these funds being available is is just critical to get the platform off of the ground and the platform or wanting to put in place is not used solely by labor licensing it would be available to any of the cabinets any of the agencies that would like to come aboard. Of course there would be a annual licensing fee for those agencies but we would have a uniform look and brand throughout the state and that's what we ask for this code money for is to get this started and all. To a good start if I can jump in though there was definitely a connection with the code and and the need to create a contactless licensure process which is I think what the intent here is. Yes if I may speak to that. We currently have at least fifty to a hundred constituents that come through the office down here on a nine hundred west capital especially in the area of barbers bail bondsmen HVAC and electricity's and this would enable them to be able to do these transactions from home or from their cell phone. But I would just to be clear this is set up the platform and there's no guarantee that any of this stuff will be online say in fact not fed the end of February correct yes Sir as part of the cures act steering committee I I do have one area that we're going to have up and running by December thirtieth so we will have one agency and one one entity fully functioning on that December thirty who would that be the the registration board for professional geologist. That's all the questions I have on this item but I do have some of the next one Mr chairman Graham I was restrictions can be excused on serving you still the Mr believed to have the body can proceed. All right they set a time be brief so if we approve the additional three hundred million an appropriation of. That would allow without with if the A. L. C. approves it I guess on Friday that would allow for the administration to sweep. Whatever is left of care that money into the U. I trust fund. Yes Sir that's the intent okay so we've already put a hundred sixty five million in to you I trust yes Sir and currently on the definitely print out that is been provided to us today for what cares that money as unspent it's over three hundred million dollars. it is it over three hundred it should be the we've had a little bit of a challenge here in that the amount of funding available has declined significantly done a daily basis so we in fact we just sent over the most recent report we sent over was last night I think there is a handout that Kevin has the does show a lot of less funding I think it's below three hundred million I think your point though that there is a lot of money still left unspent is correct yes Sir all right now we had this discussion of the cares that committee that the media from a could seek emergency approval of more specific spending request as the year winds down agree we could and work there was certainly a discussion about how best to approach that question I think that we all felt it was far better to raise the issue before the Legislative Council since you all were meeting well in advance of of when we need to make this decision so that we could seek your input and your guidance and so that we could avoid an emergency request at the eleventh hour the we hadn't briefed you on or really giving you a chance to give your input on. Is it the so is that the administration's position that putting say four hundred and sixty five million dollars in the U. S. you are trust fund is the best use if we had to do that for carriage Act funding. I think that the steering committees the the policy making entity as far as the best use of these funds and and all these money was granted out with the expectation that it be fully expended by December thirty. What we're presenting today and what we're asking for today's really contingency request we have assumed all along that as we approach the December thirtieth deadline Congress would give us an extension and we still think that will be the case however we do not have an extension at this time in light of that in a in light of or desire to avoid any kind of misunderstanding or eleventh hour action we're bringing this to you all not so much as that's the best possible use of the money but that in the eleventh hour if we're looking at the forfeiture of those funds that would be an appropriate use under the law and it would provide long term benefits for the state what if we need the money for something health related like vaccine delivery cost or if the pandemic rises back up here before the end of the year or teachers and staff like the proposal many people of I have been in support of I will Administration pull back from the three hundred million or is it just going to be a suite that there's no deadline extension. We will always be monitoring the emergencies that arise that come up and this is a very fluid situation you're on the steering committee you know how much it changes from day to day or week to week we've seen this pandemic involved dramatically from when we first got the money in February when a lot of us thought this was gonna be over by September thirtieth two what it is today so we're very aware that it's emergency situation and I have no doubt that the governor would take emergency action if he felt it was necessary if my last question Mister chairman thank you patients if if we approve this three hundred million dollar appropriation sweep of the RT the no matter what happens the administration does not have to come back in front of the legislature through the emergency process for any additional appropriation authority correct. No Sir this would that is correct if this would give us the authority to move all money to the U. I trust fund in the event Congress does not give us an extension thank you thank you Mister chairman thanks replace. And I appreciate Mr bleed if there was some emergency that came up between now December thirtieth and cares Act committee met and approved some spending otherwise that you needed to appropriation authority for you could have to have an emergency request for that absolutely. Culture vulture recognized thank you Mr chair so my question is you're not discuss this the other day I know that well first if you move it into the unemployment trust fund can it be taken back out and used for anything other than the unemployment no ma'am. So my the Bakul is is that we've given schools only so much for substitute teachers thanking that we would be passed this situation and yet this spring will probably still be dealing with that and a substitute money that they have now probably will not last them very long and it's going to cost or schools lots of money. So my only the Bakul is that once it's there we can't use it for anything else such as things that senator bond had brought up for if we have another something that comes out that's. Just so you kind of understand why I think it's kind of a hard situation to be put in I understand that and it's certainly not our intent to put anybody in a difficult situation the challenge we face is on one hand we've not gotten an extension from Congress and there is this December thirtieth deadline. Our assumption is we will get that extension I don't know that any of us can think of why we wouldn't why Congress would not give it to us. When they could very easily Act this week to give us that extension in which case everything that we're talking about would be would be moved this is really just to contingency situation that we wanted to bring to you all before before we got to a crisis point so we can have that discussion and have that plan B. in place so this is the last hour this is what we'll do in the last hour event of a failure Congress to provide that extension. What we will do a is I think first look at any additional expenses that an agency might have out there so one of the things that we're dealing with with this Kerr's ACT is the guidance on what we can do and can't do with the money has really of all since we first receive the funding back in March that the targets moving around a little bit. We've got some guidance that says there might be some expenses out there that we could reimburse our agencies for and if we did that that could be a size a lot of money that could help those agencies moving forward so that they could respond to their needs says the first thing we're going to look at we do not necessarily need appropriation to reimburse those amounts and that's what we're looking at and that's why we don't have a request for you all we do need to appropriation however to transfer funding to you I trust fund in the event that we don't have that extension and that's what we're talking about but again this is all contingency a request. Have you talked to schools to save for their stating like did they have enough PP to make it through that they have an S. disinfectant to make it through the end of the school year or did they have enough substitute money to make it through the end of the school year have we looked at that scope to see if that somewhere that we should have put some of this money. That could be spent in that manner and then some to the unemployment trust fund my understanding is the Department education is been in regular contact with the schools regarding their needs on this issue. And their issue is they've got enough money or not. I think it's something more monitoring going forward it's something that the steering committee has debated pretty vigorously and my guess is it's going to be an issue going forward I will after the December thirtieth deadline thank you Mr Lee. Oceti other questions these are approval items this is the C. two and also supplemental agenda item eighty one not entertain a motion to approve those items have a motion and a second any discussion I'm sorry Senator Hickey. You're recognized. Yes just more discussion I tend to agree with senator bond on this four hundred fifty thousand It may be you know something is needed like that but or or we were we one hundred percent sure. That this will with with all the scrutiny if if there was to be an audit. I'm fully in agreement with the unemployment trust fund but this particular one. So we have engaged a consultant Hagerty consulting which is kind of an expert on these fields if you might recall we we brought them in a few months back just so that we had an entity that we could ask as request came in does this mean master does this not all consulting has reviewed this and has approved it as meeting the requirements of the cares Act who is it again Haggerty consultant which is working in conjunction there the the DC based outfit and there's an outfit C. T. E. H. which is based here in Arkansas the just man and Mr I'm sorry that is during the motion I was trying to get through with this plexiglass is or to see what one other thing okay so if it's not do they assume the liability of this how it how is it set up I don't know the exact terms of the contract if we if the federal auditors come in and say you know what this is a misuse of the funding at the end of the day this state would be on the. Okay Mr I'd like to go to a separate that's okay sure. I did have ideas for motion I hated motion here senator rice I think I took you as a secular you good with voting the separately. Senator rice I'm sorry you're good with their two items on this you okay I thought I'd use a second. I think you thought I was a second down here okay I was trying to tidy and so. All right. The incident she withdrawal for initial motion and makes a motion to up consider at this point items C. two just items C. two this is the one of our labor licensing this is the four hundred two thousand dollars so I have a motion to have a second. All approval for the just that item. All right members is this is approval item items see to the department of labor and licensing this is the four hundred fifty thousand dollars For the of the licensing platform. I have a motion and I'm asking for a second. I have a second. Now any further discussion. If not we'll proceed to vote its approval item so all in favor everybody understand where we are this is Adam C. two a just a foreign fifty thousand dollars a motion and a second to approve so all in favor say aye. All opposed no. Share drive a Carmen of let's let's let's call the roll. Representative is building. Represented can Bragg. Represent Charlene Fite. Representative Dan Douglas. Represent Ron McNair. Resented Kenneth Ferguson. Represent Wardlaw. Thank you represent Wardlaw going to Representative Parker. Not yet a first alternate going to second alternative represented Holcomb. Next members represented Dotson. On the Senate side. Rips the absurd center Teague. Thank members Senator Irvin. Right of first alternate route Senator Irvin is Senator Sturch. Next member center called will. Not hearing center call will the next star the offers alternative is Senator Cooper. Next member is Senator Ingram. Thank members Senator Hickey. Next member senator bond. Senator Bledsoe. Next members Senator Rice. Nine RG with who is. That we did have a majority we had six votes for the in favor of the and the the chairs had to vote it is a majority of a quorum so the motion passed the that item is approved of that C. two and that will move to supplemental eighty one I would entertain a motion to approve that I don't. I have a motion second I have a second any discussion all in favor say aye. Lows NO. Hello motion carried that item is approval moved to C. three. British. Thank you measures see three is the rainy day fund release request the only item is on the second page the letter from the governor request a transfer twenty five thousand from the rainy day fund to the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement training according to the letter the commission will make grants to support this is beneficiaries of all law enforcement officers and of course this is related to that request that was made early from a separate appropriation any questions on this item. I needed a motion to approve I have a motion the second all in favor say aye. Lows NO motion carried that items approved C. for. Thank you Mr chair C. four is the recipient fund transfer recommendation. The first pages a letter from the C. if a recommend a transfer of three million ninety nine thousand from the restrict reserve fund to the division of aging adult and behavioral health division the letter says the transfer is requested to allow crisis stabilization units in Craighead Pulaski Sebastian and Washington counties to continue operations throughout this fiscal year the next page letter from the department that shows a breakdown of how much of the transferred funds will go to which County. Any questions all that are. It's not detain motion to approve I have a motion and a second all in favor say aye. Lows NO motion carried moved to C. five. Miss your C. five the reallocation of resources for DHS. This this request is a second relocation for fiscal year twenty one on the fourth page is a table showing all transfers. The first table shows appropriation transfers within divisions the Department quest transferring two hundred thousand and secretary's office to pay for capital equipment in the office of information technology eight point three million children and family services to assist the procurement of the comprehensive child will for information system. And three point three million and you services due to federal revenue agency from ten of funding for community based provider services the next table in the middle of the page shows fund transfers the Department quest transfer into engine thirty eight thousand from agent they'll be able services to county operations to accompany transfer of two registered nurse positions and to cover indirect charges to the social services block grant program the next able shows eighty position transfers across multiple divisions most of the positions are transferred to the Division developmental disability services and that's to assistance behavior health aides about seventy seven positions. Any questions on this side of. Lauderdale motion to approve. I have a motion to approve a lot of. I have a motion. Second. Any discussion. All in favor say aye. Opposed no. Motion carried its approval moved to a agenda item D.. Thank you Mr a section the or the budget classification trance transfer requests the first item is for the department of commerce State Insurance Department its request to transfer twenty thousand from confident travel to capital outlay the transfer will other apartments replaced two vehicles after a price increase under fiscal year twenty one contract. The next item item to this from the Department of milk the part of the military its request to transfer sixteen thousand two fifty from operating expenses to capital outlay the transfers for unforeseen repairs and expenses which include purchase of covers to maintain water drainage and also replace our phone system due to the federal network no longer supporting the state phone system or on camp Robinson Mr those would be cities on today's agenda any questions on those items. Not the state reviewed item E.. Share item the or the miscellaneous federal grant requests the first item is for the Department agriculture Arkansas natural resources commission this is a request for six hundred thirty seven thousand appropriation to spend federal funds they have a grant from the EPA to provide drinking water program assistance to underserved small and disadvantaged populations The Great inquire as a fifty three percent state match I talked to the Department learned that those with that match about seven twenty thousand will come from donations from committees and limited the Arkansas rule water association in Arkansas natural resources council. The next item is easy to the DHS division of county operations this is a request for one point four million appropriation to spend federal funds they have a grant from the USDA to provide employment training services for snap recipients this item is one hundred and fairly funded. The next items for the just Division of County operations its request for a little over ten million appropriations been federal funds and they have a grant from the USDA to develop the Arkansas integrated eligibility and benefits benefit management system this item is one percent fairly funded. The next item is also from the Division carry operations this is the for its request for twenty five thousand an appropriation they have a grant from the USDA to provide outreach services to seniors in areas identified as Los that participate participation this item is one percent fairly funded sure those are all the amenities any questions on any of those items. It's not just in reviewed. Next up. Share in section if this is a reform is fun PAYPLAN hold account transfer requests. These request agencies to increase being three to pay regular salaries extra help and personal services matching orders reported transfer from the from the performance fund there are three agencies requesting a total of almost thirty thousand and seventy three on the schedule on the second page hearing instrument dispensers request two thousand appropriation due to extra help employees working more hours than expected which leads to increase retirement benefit expenses psychology border a request almost sixteen thousand due to a position starting at a higher rate the base level in the State Bank department request twenty thousand to continue using an extra help positions. Any questions. Not those items will stand reviewed moved to the monthly reports. Thank you Mister The first report G. one three day fund report and this report shows rainy fund income and distributions as of the end of October the last table at the bottom the page shows project distributions in a fund balance of eleven million six hundred nine nine thousand nine hundred ninety seven shales the approval on Friday today's rainy day release for the Commission on Law Enforcement training to do balance will be eleven point six seven million. The next item G. two is a report on the budget stabilization trust fund and this proportions cash flow loans throughout the fiscal year as of the end of November there are twenty six point two million in outstanding loans in the cash balances one hundred and seventy seven million. Next item jeep three is the tobacco settlement report in this report gives a summary of income fund balances investments actual payments to the state and on the second page all expenses by fiscal year. The next item. Is she for this is the State Central Services Fund report and this report shows the fund balance and disbursements as well the expenditure that each agency supported by the fun. The last item G. five the cures act report and this report shows that since from the one point two five billion cares funds and steering committee recommendations pending government approval as of the time or the port and all know that and and it didn't their reports made and so you have been handed out to you by staff earlier in the agenda. Any questions on any of those reports. All right of peer will not meet again until after session. And again I wanna thank for for my co chair Representative all do you have any comments since this is the last meeting of the year. Have a merry Christmas. The end of the thanks again to my co chair thanks to all the members of our staff and to our agency representatives if there is nothing further this meeting is adjourned.