ALC-JBC Budget Hearings (1:30P-4:00P)

Alright ladies and gentlemen if you would take your seats we're going to start the meeting and to. We do have a question for the a. Alcohol beverage control administration and so of within start with that and then we can continue on down the intent to that was the last thing I think before we we. Senate broke for lunch and Senator hammer has a question. You're recognized Senator hammer. Thank you madam chair. I am sure you want to guess please recognize herself for the record all right please do early check Doorly Chandler director of the alcoholic beverage control Melanie hi flip the FAA office of administrative services. Thank you question thank you Mr chair of we had discussions over lunch hour and it's my understanding that on the I believe it special revenue category that beginning twenty twenty two yeah could cut that from three point five million down to half a million is that agreeable to correct I'm fine Senator X. thirty six which is on page one ninety six yes Sir the refunds and reimbursements which is currently at authorized at three point five we would be agreeable to take that down the five hundred thousand all right so men chair. Yes could I. Could I make a motion to that one particular item. Yes right I'd like to make a motion that we adjust the medical marijuana commission fund under special revenue. Down from three point five million beginning year twenty twenty two to twenty twenty three down to five hundred thousand all right that's a proper motion to have the second all right all those in favor say aye all those opposed right motion passes thank you manager. Okay now we need a motion for the whole department do I have a motion. All right second. All right we have a second all those in favor say aye. All those opposed motion passes thank you very much. All right. Mr pending you already. Thank you madam chair our next appropriation we're going to look over this is assessment coordination department session coronation division sorry their summaries on page two twenty five. This division exercises general and complete can supervision over the valuation assessment and equalization of all locally assessed ad valorem taxes in Arkansas and the local officials and employees administering them and all seventy five counties. There are four appropriations here the agency for FY twenty one are authorized level is nineteen point three million dollars and for both years biennium they're asking for nineteen point two million and appropriation and one hundred sixty thousand dollar decrease. Of these four appropriations three have no change levels the only one that has changed levels that we will look at is on page two thirty that's going to be there state operations appropriations. This is the state operations appropriations funded by general revenue and ad valorem taxes authorized by Arkansas code the agency's requesting appropriation in the amount of three point three million dollars for both years of the biennium and general revenue funding in the amount of five hundred and twenty nine thousand dollars for FY twenty two and five hundred thirty one thousand dollars for FY twenty three aids request includes the following changes they're asking for a transfer of positions and related appropriation to separate. Divisions within the FAA any exactly recommendation provides for the agency request and one position reclassification it was covered in personnel committee madam chair that concludes my presentation for assessment coordination division right thank you committee are there any questions. All right seeing none do I have the motion for executive brick. All right second all those in favor say aye. All those opposed motion passes. All right Mr pen you're recognized thank you madam chair our next division this is child support enforcement division. They're one appropriation summary is on page starts on page two thirty six. This division is a federal and state effort to collect child support from non custodial parents and funding for this appropriation consists of a combination of federal funds general revenue fees and Senate payments and state share of temporary assistance for needy families collections. The agency's requesting appropriation and the amount of sixty seven million dollars for both years of the biennium and general revenue funding in the amount of twelve point six million dollars for FY twenty two in FY twenty three. Agency request includes the following they're asking for transfer of positions and related appropriation. They're also asking to maintain their cap outlay at a hundred thousand dollars hundred thousand dollars for each year the biennium the executive recommendation provides for the agency request along with title changes in position upgrades with regular salaries increases of a hundred sixty five thousand dollars in personal services matching of thirty eight thousand dollars madam chair that concludes my presentation for child support enforcement. All right we do senator Elliott you're recognized for a question. Thank you madam chair I just have one question what's the source of the fees who we charging fees. Barbara Williams administrator office of child support enforcement alright you're recognized the fees that we charge our combination of those two custodial parents who are apply for services and are not receiving means any other kind of public assistance as well as some cost recovery for a. Two non custodial parents and in terms of an administrative annual administrator for processing payments as well as fees related to specific legal legal services so if on a of let you know I'm not receiving child support is there a fee somehow involved in your processing my complaint of whatever is did you say that's that might be a source of a fee yes for individuals who are receiving public assistance in the form of Medicaid that Hannah force map there are no fees for services for other individuals who come to us and apply for services there's both and and application fee as well as Fees the on going for specific services thank you talk about me as the person who is seeking to get child support I'm paying a fee to do that. Is how minimal I'm hoping that's minimalism word is that because if I need help an application fee is twenty five dollars and that's a federally required. As well as if any month that there is a collection receive there's an eight and a maximum of eighteen dollars charged. It can vary depending on how much is collected during that month. So rather than the whole amount that you received say from this other supporting spouse or person whatever a part of what you collect from that person we keep a part of that for the fees. Correct you know what to the percentages by ancient I'm sorry you know the process how much is there percentage yours there. What what's the fee what's the fee that you T. it's going to break down to up to eighteen dollars or thirteen percent of the amount collected that month whichever is less. Okay thank you all right one line. Representative would new recognized for a question. Put your mess that so I can hear you have that or if you don't mind thank you sorry. How many how many. Delinquent. Hello are you after over there. It fairies our current case load is around a hundred and twenty seven thousand cases it's kind of hard to pinpoint a. You know it it may be if you're looking over I have a year's period or on a month by month basis and that could certainly be information that we can have poor Spahn with you. Twenty seven thousand hundred twenty seven house. One hundred and twenty seven thousand then there's delinquent on child support cases that we are providing services to. This item has an imaginable. It. What what what will it take will. Could you. Israelis. Thank you well what what what in your opinion your professional opinion will it take to get that to get on either in jail well no they came pay anything then but the the all these children here and they're not paying child support forum and we're having to pick it up and I'll mine. But it's just it's just read here's what I've been told. I ask you if it's correct if a minor chairman I'm told the judge said to child support in court tells father you're going pay X. amount of dollars to support these children child or children whatever it may be that he gives the order it's called to order any tells them when need to report somewhere just sign up. And someone walk right out the door never sign up you they may not be a part of the under twenty seven thousand is that right. Correct you mean you mean you mean you mean other judge Gisele larder and they will because the court room door if I don't go down there nobody knows about. I'm not sure I'm following you If a court enters an order for a noncustodial parent you provide support generally that's a matter between that the parties custodial parent and non custodial parent if there's non compliance of the order the other party can seek redress with the courts it in addition our office is able to provide services again to those individuals who are receiving public assistance and Medicaid snap Tanith as well as those who request our services there's not a I'm not sure I'm following what you're talking about in the person order having to sign up for something well the way we shared with me that they were they indicate to someone circuit Clerk recorder or a. Someone that they would be paying child support and does a if they don't do they pay that all up and pay it directly to the spouse or do they or do they follow it through a clearinghouse. Generally it's either paid directly through the circuit clerk's office or through the clearing house which are agency operates. So. If they don't report or tell someone how you know that sale with. For those cases in which we are providing services that seven hundred and twenty seven thousand that I mentioned earlier we will maintain a record of how much is owed and how much has been paid then if it is not being paid we have authority to take enforcement actions against that individual you're there are cases in which we are not providing services and we do not monitor and how much it is being paid. One more question on another subject personnel you have forty forty positions in your division the have not been filled for over two years is there a reason one for holding on to him or to other not feel. Up until July of two thousand and nineteen and FOR many years we had experienced a reduction in our case load and so at that point in time we did if we did me the position we did not feel felt however it beginning in July of last year DHS resume for for all of those Medicaid recipients who are eligible for child support services and then in July of this year we implemented some legislation was passed in the last session for those snap recipients were eligible for child support services so at this point we've our case load is increased by about thirty two thousand since July of two thousand and nineteen so at this point in time we're we're hoping to utilize those positions. Your case load dropped not a case that has increased since to what would you said earlier you case load a drop was one reason hello to drop below one twenty seven. Prior to July of two thousand and nineteen and FOR a number of years the case that had been decreasing assimilated been and decreasing for child support programs across the state so it's not unique to Arkansas like I said in July of last year we've seen since that time we've seen a dramatic increase in Arkansas. Thank you Mr chairman. Presented Cavenaugh you're recognized for a question thank you madam chair my question is on page two thirty eight. It's dealing with your data processing and equipment. What are you paying there at seven point eight million and then you're asking for an additional four million for eleven point eight. Robert mark agency control of the house child support enforcement hi. You need the question repeated thirty eight it's a dealing with your data processing equipment. Asking for eleven point eight appropriation you've spent seven point eight that's a four million dollar difference but beyond that is just what are you getting for eleven million dollars a year. Well a a big part of that is the contract with protect solutions who are they are data processing consultant and they operate are arches of child support and information system and then the the remaining part of it is just is other I. T. related expenses foreign network services and software and a computer equipment small computers and and things like that. Could I please ask that we get a list of who these contracts are within the dollar amounts and how long they've been in contract and we and then when there to be up right thank you thank you. Any other questions. The amendment. That by A. Representative bit you're recognized for a question. Of. Representative will of. Questions got me thank you so you said that in two thousand nineteen you've seen an increase I think you said thirty two. Thirty two thousand cases so prior to that you were running along at about ninety thousand cases. Ninety thousand correct someone that number so and you said it had been declining. So what was it in two thousand nineteen that trip to trigger that got us off of the decline in god's going up that was within DHS resumed referring those Medicaid recipients who are eligible for child support services and then again in July of that in the prior session acts. Required a snap recipients who are eligible for child support services to cooperate with our agency as a condition of receiving the services so the combination of both of those referrals and that stream of cases coming from DHS to our agency resulted in that increase thank you. Chairman if I might speak to the earlier question yes we have included in the in the budget information is the information regarding our contract with tech solution because they are a minority contractor and so that eleven million nine point eight is our contract would protect solutions and that contract is periodically you know bit out by request for proposal. All right thank you A I'd like to go back to the question that you ask. A so until that particular time the children that were receiving other services were not re not required to. A go through your office to find the the day and is that right to to help with payment to help with support. Raise recipients of tanna for that the cash assistance have been required to to cooperate with CSE as a condition of receiving those those benefits at prior in times past we did have an interface with DHS for the referral of those Medicaid cases however as part of their implementation of Kerr we we lost that that source of cases for a period of time and that is what was implemented back in July of last year and that's the reason for the up tick in numbers yes ma'am all right okay thank you all right. Six fifty seven. All right of representatives Springer you're recognized. I thank thank you madam chair. The gentleman that just responded to the question about the minority over here the minority contractor yes I'm looking at the book the budget of summary for challenge was meant division and it doesn't indicate on this on the cover sheet on page two thirty four U. is usually there when you indicate that you have a minority contractor yours is not reflected however you've indicated that you that protect is a minority contractor so if they are up please let me please tell us how much is that contract for it's on page two thirty five the. Okay nine million is that is that correct yes that's correct alright thank you. All right thank you seeing no other questions do I have a motion for executive brick right second. All right all those in favor say aye all those opposed. Motion passes. All right Mr pen you're recognized. Thank you madam chair our last appropriation for DFA eight this is disbursing officer begins on page two hundred and forty. You see on page two forty two forty one and two forty two this division has seventy five separate appropriations. Thankfully only fifteen for fifteen of them have change levels and they are organized into six different sections. Our first appropriation with change level is going to be on page two eighty eight. This is the pandemic unemployment compensation program this is a cash in bank appropriation. It provides for the pandemic unemployment compensation program and associate expenses the agency requests to discontinue its appropriation of three point eight billion dollars for both. But you're the biennium and conversations with the agency that stated that this was not a DFA program it would be operated by the department of workforce services. Our next appropriation with change levels is going to be on page two ninety two. Is the Arkansas wine grants program. This was established by ACT five await of twenty seventeen for the Arkansas wine grants fund that are paid to see Arkansas small farm wineries as incentives with fifty percent of the proceeds being paid from grocery store wine permits the agency request to discontinue this appropriation of six hundred fifty thousand dollars each year the biennium and executive recommendation provide for the agency request. Our next appropriation is on page two ninety six. This is the cares appropriation with the cares holding account this provides or transfers of appropriation of expense of appropriation to expenses funding provided by the cares actor receiving state entities. Danger is requesting to continue the appropriation of one and a quarter billion dollars for both years the biennium stating that this appropriation will only be utilized in the event that the deadline to expense cares funding is extended and expected recommendation provides for the agency request. On page noon two ninety eight on the next page we have the code nineteen cares reimbursement appropriation. This was established by the pier subcommittee. Be a non appropriation transfer from the cares holding appropriation. It provides or transfers of Kerr's funding by warrant for reimbursable expenses the agency is requesting to wrist to maintain their appropriation of five million each year the biennium to provide FOR transfers of Kerr's funny to entities outside of the treasury and also stayed here too that this will only be utilized in the event that the deadline to expense cares funding is extended an executive recommendation provides for the agency request. Our next appropriation is on page three hundred and six. This is disbursing officers miscellaneous transfers appropriation. These are multiple appropriations from which transfers the berries agencies are authorized if necessary to meet obligations for which appropriations made by the General Assembly may not be sufficient. Davis is requesting seventy seven point five million dollars for FY twenty two and ninety eight point five million for FY twenty three. The agency request includes the following changes there's twenty million additional personal services play plan appropriation to ensure sufficient appropriation is available to transfer regular salaries and matching as needed for a twenty seventh paper in FY twenty three. Also requesting a million and additional personal services extra help appropriation. To ensure an appropriation is available for extra help in matching is needed for that twenty seven APR enough why twenty twenty three. The agency stated these are one time request which will be reduced for the following biennium. The executor condition provides for the agency request and an additional one million and personal services extra help each year the biennium for a state wide internship program as requested by the department of transformation and shared services. And our last appropriation to change levels is on page three oh nine. This is the state's contribution. Appropriation this is paid out of general revenue and this provide this appropriation provides reduced of various organizations. It all depends yearly substance from each organization increases dues increase with special language that authorizes transfers appropriation and funding between line items carry four nine expended balances an appropriation and funds. The agency's requesting appropriation of one point five seven million in FY twenty two and one point six two million in FY twenty three with general revenue in the amount of one point five million and FY twenty two one one point five nine million in FY twenty three with the following nine appropriation change levels and to see that on page three oh nine the net appropriation increases per fiscal year would be fifty seven thousand for FY twenty two and a hundred thousand five hundred for FY twenty three. The agency request includes additional general revenue funding of fifty seven thousand for FY twenty to one hundred thousand for FY twenty three and the second recommendation provides for the agency request an appropriation only. Madam chair that concludes my presentation for DFA disbursing officer. Alright thank you senator Elliott you're recognized for a question. I'm chair thank you and share out my questions on page the I. two ninety two about the Arkansas wine grants program that it has that is that just being discontinued period or is or is that an appropriation someplace else for these wine grants that is actually an appropriation in somewhere else and. Four years ago the court the language was changed in Arkansas wine grants it created an appropriation to pay that out of the last session an additional change was made which created a second find both of those operate the same way for the same dollar that is collected all of that is in regards to the grocery store wine permit time her permit right so we can't split that two different ways so we're just asking to do away with the one that is not being used so where is the one we're keeping it yes I'm sorry ma'am Sixty eight it is on page two sixty eight okay all right yes ma'am. All right that's a that's good that's that's all I want to yes and then two sixty eight is still used in will continue to be used for the wine grants okay all right. Nice looking at it to sixty. I'll put you back on the key okay now I'm good alright I have another question. Representative Eubanks recognized for a question thank you madam chair but the senator Elliott ask my questions because of this small small wineries are in my area and I didn't want somebody get blind sided here are yes Sir that is not our intent at all there were two different fund set up for the same dollar to be issued as a grant there's just not a need for two funds unless additional funding is found that's different than that occurred store wine permit okay thank you thank you all right to a Representative Payton you're recognized for a question thank you madam chair so I'd like a deeper understanding of the miscellaneous transfers on three page three oh six we consistently have. Agencies of before us during the budget hearings that are requesting access appropriation in the name of flexibility in this would seem to be a redundant. Access appropriation this may be more general and and more useful than that all the agencies it request access appropriation but could you give me a better understanding of exactly what this is on three oh six and what the differences between this and when the agencies or building extra appropriation in their budgets. All right would you introduce yourself for the record please a yes Jake plea DFA office of budget so we have a specific pots of appropriation that we use for specific purposes and if you look on page three of six it lays out what that does the miscellaneous our our kind of different transfers are appropriate for so for example pay plan appropriation is something that we use regularly to to make payroll you know as the people come on we can project out and we can make our best guess on how much appropriation we need for payroll the people do things like retire unexpectedly over they quit they get fired so sometimes it's difficult for us to figure out what how much appropriation do we need for individual payrolls so we use our pay plan holding fund we bring that to FOR ale see every month the overtime holding is another example of that with these are just pots of money that allow us to address the specific needs of the agencies of parts of appropriation excuse me the Los so would you say that when an agency is asking for. Excess appropriation and their personnel and things that would cover the same pots that that's not redundant. Yes I mean it depending on the on the request that the agency is making if they're making a request for way more than we think they need though we're going to dial them back we're gonna we're gonna trying real in any any a line or appropriation requests with what we think their actual expenditures are going to need now do you differentiate your decide with which appropriation or use this or or the access appropriation bill may agency's budget. That's a good question and you know one of the ongoing issues that we've got with kind of ale see generally is there's an opportunity there for agencies to obtain additional procreation in a number of different ways throughout the biennium one of my concerns as well how does that affect the the integrity the budgeting process well I guess my concern or my question would be what's the difference in approval process for if an agency has extra appropriation bill Maher budget verses this the agency's budget would go through the normal budget process get three quarters majority required for appropriation acts and then it would be there for the agency to utilize this usually if not exclusively requires ale see action or approval from the chief fiscal officer of the state so this will be a higher hurdle so to speak. DO yes depending on how you mid term during the fiscal year yes is a higher or yeah they would need to do the deed to come full first all they need to be requested from us they have to get our approval and then they'd have to come before LC. Depending on the circumstances around all that Senate alike this program better but thank you madam chair. I. The represented Kevin no you're recognized for a question. And if I can of Melanie points out that they can't utilize these of appropriation amount until they exhaust everything that they've got within their budget this is kind of a last resort. Thank you madam chair my question goes to page two fifty nine it's the administration of justice fund. And where I've got two questions the other funding of thirty eight point five million dollars and then it goes with thirty eight million dollars they're about where is that coming from. That's going to be collections from the courts. Okay. That leads into my second question. You're you're asking for total of forty six point one million. But you're expenditure with only two point two million why is there if we're collecting that from the court how come there's such a difference between grants and aid and reimbursements that were actually doing. I'm a lot of this appropriation is not used because the transfer the money is given to the state agency's be a fund transfer. Instead of beat via check. So instead issuing one of the recipients of this would be the administration of the office of the courts FOR court reporters are trial court assistance we don't use the appropriation to give them money we transferred them the funds this gives us the authority to do that transfer. We're looking at this particular appropriation do we not need that information showing that you transfer that money out because it looks like you're collected money that's never going anywhere. Can I can I have that information absolutely ma'am we thank you that information together thank you and if if I could just jump in once I get to that agency that agency still gonna need appropriation on there and to spend it so. All right thank you a Representative would you recognize for question thank you Mr chair on page eighty eight would would you explain at three point eight billion again is that money you all of them holding from the cares act or would. That was actually an appropriation that was requested for the pandemic unemployment compensation DS I requested the appropriation but D. W. S. workforce services actually operated that program so we got that appropriation that program in I believe December thirtieth or thirty first so we won the programs probably not gonna be there and to DFA did not use the appropriation D. W. S. DO if if if I can jump in if you member during the fiscal session we we were all kind of scrambling to put all this together and we knew that unemployment was going to take a big hit we knew that they were going to need a lot of appropriation and and they had their traditional employment issues on top of that we had the new P. U. a program which it was just being set up DFA was helping to stand up that program and at the time we weren't sure where that program was ultimately going to to live to be to be operated out of so we put we requested to the three point eight billion be put India phase bill but there was special language in there that allowed us to transfer that over you do give US whenever they were ready to receive it Dave now taken over running that program so that's why you see in twenty two and twenty three there the appropriation is been discontinued. So what we're to three point eight billion income for a that was our best estimate on how much we would need to pay this is the additional six hundred dollars that was paid out of FOR unemployment assistance as a result of the carriers ACT. Is it is this the one where we split apart over with the failed or now at this point this was solely federal dollars this was this was to okay that's what I'm after yes Sir it was a three point eight billion came down from the fed to you all yes Sir and then you you okay I understanding manager I have some more questions I'd like to ask secretary Walter we can do it after you pass as part of it if you could. We were ready for motion okay. The wreck I have a motion do I have a second I have a second all those in favor say aye all those opposed motion passes. All right I'd like to. Push the button again please. Of representatives Wooten. It's not showing up on our. Computer. There you go to me. They're a good. All right you have a question yes Appropriate to this this but we're working well done so we'll make it quick. You'll have over there six hundred and sixteen but he could positions yes Sir and I don't know that's nineteen this nineteen. A hundred and twenty of those or but have been vacant for over two years. In the sense not to walls will nineteen point four percent of your total vacancies. To the. What what is. And I want one of those you know that's almost another whole agency yes and I understand We or yeah we've been in a difficult situation this year and our numbers have gone down the pandemic is that a problem we did have a of a freeze from the governor's office for about three months of right now when I checked well when I checked Monday. We have two hundred and seventy. One. Positions that are either advertised about to be advertised are being filled today well on on the for owned on Monday. Of what we are doing also is. Using those positions that you referred to starting at the at the longest on the list coming coming up to the the recent times to as we've as were making changes within the FAA were removed you know there's been several positions that we uh we've added people one place to take them out we didn't it did increase anywhere but we were moving around we have an issue. In the revenue offices there's there's I look at the state and five different areas we have northwest Arkansas northeast Arkansas southwest Arkansas southeastern joins in central or so we're growing in northwest we're growing in North etcetera north east and we're going and central so we're trying to add positions are trying to reduce the wait time trying to reduce of the customer destruction trying to serve those serve the taxpayer's better than we have the end because we have had a loss of people and your course these are positions that are somewhat lower paid and there's a big turnover in this area so we're always fighting to hire and keep people in these offices the same thing exist in the child support organization were I'm not sure how many were a we have out right now but we're trying to increase the numbers of employees within child support also so we're we're trying to tackle the issue that you have addressed we've been encouraged by OPM by TSS we've been and and we to understand what we're trying to do and how we're trying to improve service so we're out there attempting to do it but it's a very difficult thing to do plus as you add people prefer leaving so you know you may so you're at a hundred you may you may lose twenty so it's all you know we were ever in trying to get those numbers up where we can provide good service to state to the state of Arkansas well I will. Commission your pay for the baby because they've been doing double duty was sarsi being closed so they've been doing they've done an excellent job of but. A bill FOR when you talk about filling two hundred seventy positions with a hundred and twenty of this six hundred and sixteen or over two years ago and that's to me that's were were good men trouble and and US Russian when we are re purposing we've looked at those jobs and we are you know we're adding of numbers of people in revenue in these revenue offices were also created organizations going to process of paper of applicant paper income tax filing sales tax and things like that we're bringing that in house we're using those positions that you just described and re purposing them and will be filling those positions in in areas where we need additional people so we're we're I'm trying to do what you're asking me to do okay that's good that's good do you think that we need to go ahead and state wide now. agencies everyone do you think we need to look at some way to regulate those positions that are over two years old and also a quick question let. Do you think that we need to just establish X. amount of dollars in the pool they were going to pay for insurance and then each agency has to come up with that money. The way we're doing now. I've thought about this a lot the you for I have I've been thinking about it from the day I walked into DFA because I found it to be a curious way of doing things also Having said that the all. Departments are using that same. Process. Using the of the number of people that you have budgeted. Of verses the number in the job and using that money for for various reasons set a general initial salaries you know a salary increases you know salary savings is used as for for a lot of things. I think that it is a feeling that needs to it it's a it's an issue that needs to be addressed but you I don't want. To do it and just for the purpose of reducing the number of budget two positions we have to have a plan for ET date that's the this is a man in my terms subsidizing A. B. date we all know that. I'm a I'm a proponent of of using more direct of. message for providing assistance to defer heirs in any on I thank you all the to it is apparent from the committee as I listen to these a budget meeting see that you're interested in how money is a monies coming at house going out what is being used for so that you know what it is and in a way the way way it's been done sent I thank US senator Ingram gave a school history I never heard that I wouldn't it make sense want to reset it that we're in we're four we're forcing of some action so but I think that it's something that the maybe the personnel committee and then a LC should take on and look at and and do it so that it's done. Agency achieving a statewide not one agency independent of of everybody else. I think it's a major policy change well and I appreciate that because I think as we review what we don't want to penalize anybody we don't take funding away this David but we're really and one of the secretaries of the department one of the departments under the it's a shell. You know where it where is the money what what were you doing what we're is it could. I appreciate that and we'll we'll certainly do that thank you madam chairman thank you Mr Walter thank you alright ladies and gentleman there know what the question I have a motion for executive Rick all right this second all right all those in favor say aye all those opposed motion passes the ladies and gentleman we're going on to the department of public safety and Mister Coleman if you would come down and get us started. You're recognized. Thank you madam chair dog Coleman with the bureau of legislative research I will start off with the department of public safety division of administration shared services which the department appropriation summary can be found on page five hundred fifty three of your manuals. six oh appropriations listed here towing out of a nine point eight million dollars but they're only three change levels are the six first change level on page five forty seven we can find a law enforcement support office appropriation appropriation is funded with general revenue and all the one hundred dollars of the roughly seventy six thousand dollars requested cover salaries in personal services matching. Fourteen thousand nine hundred dollar reduction operating expenses due to the ability to provide for those costs view the accompanying cash appropriation found on page five hundred forty five. Executive recommendation provides for the agency requested both years of the biennium. Our next change level is on page five hundred fifty three manuals this is department of public safety appropriation. Funding for this appropriation come from several sources including general revenue federal and other funds fiscal year twenty two shows a total requests about six million seven hundred nineteen thousand dollars well fiscal year twenty three shows the total at roughly seven sorry six million seven hundred forty one thousand dollars. There's just under half a million dollar increase for fiscal twenty fiscal year twenty one budgeted and is due to increase of three authorized positions salary in personal services matching adjustments in the conference and travel expenses and professional fees that come with the eighty nine total positions for this appropriation. Our last change level in this division is the crime reparations board federal appropriation which is on page five hundred fifty six in your manuals. really the only difference here is one administrative assistant position being moved to shared services sorry the department of public safety appropriation insurance services the remaining request consist of five thousand dollars for operating expenses and one million dollars for claims both nets for but you're the biennium madam chair that includes the division of administration certain services all right a Representative Cavenaugh you're recognized for a question. I thank you minds dealing with five forty nine five forty eight five page five forty nine fire prevention commission grants. So this was transferred from. The F. an aide to the department of public safety administration shared services. Is that reflected on the warehouses it reflected of the reduction of that. I'm sorry can having trouble understanding click on five forty eight it says ACT nine ten of two thousand nineteen transfer the administration of the fire prevention commission grants from the department of finance and administration to the department of public safety administration of shared services. So but we're this is a grant. Process and it show one the appropriation here but if this was transferred in from somewhere else was there a reduction in another appropriation for it. I think the. Jake a lead can come down and maybe help yet little bit. The the people who would be able to answer this more definitively actually just left but that appropriation was in DFA disbursing officer there's this whole process the the those been there for years where funds from homeowners insurance are collected and disbursed out to various different fire departments all over the state. Adam emergency management played a role in that we're date because there's of a licensure and accreditation kind of process they would then tell DFA who pay DFA would go to a really complicated process of deciding how that worked with transformation that process of dispersing those monies moved over to Adam which is in public safety so I'm gonna go to confirm it right now but my expectation was that appropriation used to live within DFA disbursing officer okay thank you. All right ladies and gentleman up there no other questions do I have the executive motion for executive Rick all right second all those in favor say aye all those opposed motion passes Mr Coleman. Thank you madam chair the next up we have the Arkansas state police by the department of. Public safety division Arkansas state police summary can be found on page five hundred sixty three in a manual. Hair eight to appropriation for the division telling just over one hundred thirty three million dollars for fiscal year twenty two just over one hundred thirty five million dollars for fiscal year twenty three the eighty if a bomb loan for agency construction will not continue into the by any appropriation you can see that on the last line of the division summary on page five sixty three. Our first change level in state police is on page five hundred sixty seven or manuals this is the highway safety program federal appropriation. This is funny with federal funds from the national highway traffic safety administration for the administration of the state highway safety program with the exception of personal services matching a capital outlay continuing level of appropriations fiscal year twenty one authorized agency is requesting just under two twenty four point five million dollars for both use the biennium is that your recommendation meets this request. Our next change levels on page five hundred sixty nine which shows the homeland for a homeland security federal appropriation misappropriation is used for department of our homeland security grants with federal funds from emergency management. Fiscal year twenty one level appropriations continued with the exception of capital outlay for which around one hundred sixty eight thousand dollars is requested for fiscal year twenty two and roughly one hundred twenty six thousand dollars is requested for fiscal year twenty three is for bomb suits equipment and a boat and trailer. Reductions in operating costs and conference in travel or do the ending of grant awards and executor condition me see AG request just over five hundred seventy thousand dollars to fix your twenty two just under five hundred thirty thousand dollars for fiscal year twenty three. In exchange level is the automated fingerprint ID system located on page five hundred seventy one your manuals. Under the special revenues collection collected from fees for criminal background checks avis provides state of the art computer filing according matching a forget fingerprint records law enforcement agencies can process these record through twenty two remote live scan locations across the state there's a deduction an appropriation FOR operating expenses from fiscal year twenty one authorized down by two hundred sixty five thousand dollars a fiscal year twenty two around sixty five thousand dollars and fiscal year twenty three and see is requesting around six hundred fifty thousand dollars in capital outlay for fiscal year twenty two for a new filing system in two million one hundred fifty thousand dollars in fiscal year twenty three for software upgrades executive recommendation provide for the agency requests for both years the biennium. Our next change levels on five hundred seventy three which is the state police operations appropriations roughly seventy percent of total funding for this primary operating account come from general revenue while the remaining twenty two comes from federal reimbursement D. W. I. court awards transfers from DHS to support the crimes against children division A OJ funding miscellaneous revenue sources and a spectrum of special revenue funding. AC is requesting just above ninety six point three million dollars in fiscal year twenty two and around ninety six point eight million dollars for fiscal year twenty three. Their request includes the following changes transfer of fifty three positions along with salaries and personal services matching the shared services reallocation of one hundred twelve thousand dollars and operating expenses to shared services a reduction in operating expenses of around three quarters of a million dollars for both years the biennium reallocation of just over three thousand dollars in conference and travel to shared services and reduction of around one hundred seventy thousand dollars and professional fees. They're also capital outlay request three hundred seventy six thousand dollars a fiscal year twenty two and two hundred twenty six thousand dollars a fiscal year twenty three for replacement of aging canines filing system unmanned aerial vehicles and the replacement of firearms training simulator along with other various IT related upgrades. The agency also has requested an additional three million two hundred eighty two thousand four hundred and forty dollars in general revenue funding for both your the biennium executive recommendation provide for appropriation only. In exchange levels on page five hundred seventy five which shows state police's various federal programs appropriation. See you by state police to support various programs received as grants from the US department of justice the agency anticipates receiving federal funding from the internet crimes against children grants the agency is requesting appropriation of just above three million dollars for both years the biennium. They're requesting to continue the position approved in the interim into the next biennium along with a salary match and the conference and travel expenses that will be associated with that position capital outlay request for route forty two thousand dollars in fiscal year twenty two for software and seventy thousand dollars in fiscal year twenty three for a server blade forensic workstation and forensic tools are also included. Second recommendation provide for the agency requests. On page five hundred seventy seven see the confiscated funds transfer appropriation after getting approval from the CFO of the state a Speaker request confiscated funds transfer he got a motor vehicle purchases and maintenance overtime pay personal services matching operational needs our capital improvements the subject to prior review by LC JBC capital outlay is the only change from fiscal year twenty one authorized with three hundred forty thousand dollars requested in fiscal year twenty two and two hundred sixty thousand dollars requested in fiscal year twenty three for crime scene scanners firing range equipment for the criminal investigations division effective recommendation provides for the agency requests. Our next change levels the criminal background check appropriation located on page five hundred seventy nine of your manuals appropriation is funded for special revenues collected from criminal history background check fees and federal charges for FBI background checks. Par for personal services matching and capital outlay appropriation level is fiscal year twenty one authorized. Cap outlay request and decrease from fiscal year twenty one and are for live scans and service in the amount of one hundred eighty eight thousand dollars to fix your twenty two and two hundred forty eight thousand dollars for fiscal year twenty three check a recommendation provide for the agency requests around four point four million dollars for both years the biennium. and the last change level was that eighty if a bomb loan that I mentioned and the department summary and that was for the construction of trooper headquarters and agency is no longer requesting that appropriation DO and being one time funding. And madam chair that include state police alright thank you we do have a question so colonel Bryant or someone in the audience that might come forward and be able to answer the question. Hi of please the state your name for the record please. Thank you madam chair bill bride rector the Arkansas state police right to. Representative Cavenaugh you're recognized for a question thank you madam chair mind just I'm not here to public. It's probably pretty simple hard to say yes to this on your highway safety program federal you have a line item was for grants and aids what happened grants and aids is that and what is it used for. Command me one thing to get to might have a five sixty seven. Yes ma'am we we are give up grants we have members of east side and you crash it's a part of our new system and that's where we get local agencies to work certain like seat belts BB I speed those kind of programs also we do the click it or ticket the drive sober get pulled over those different kind of things So and also you know this mostly the step program of the kind of grants that we do give out. And how's that determined do they just the local agencies to they just apply to you house that yes ma'am they got the highway safety offices approval process there certain limitations to the grant the have to qualify and and work so many are justified hours in a work and what type of violations okay thank you yes ma'am right. The Representative Wooten you are recognized for a question. one once a average Salary for For your uniform people. See I the. Anyone is considered a trooper let's put it that way trooper captain George and corporal ever yes Sir we're very for to the legislature laughter gave us a five percent increase from the rank of triple trooper up to major the colonels lieutenant colonels did not get a race but starting salary now for a is P. troopers forty two thousand three fifty seven. Then the the next progression B. a trooper first class it's forty seven thousand two hundred sixty one dollars and the corporal which is our journeymen grade is fifty two thousand seven thirty three. And our sergeants are sixty five six fifty eight. Do you know the surrounding states an average. Yes Sir we did a study on that when presented to you all here in Arkansas really the only agency that pays a little bit more than us is the little rock police department there at forty three other surrounding states like Texas the PS they have a very robust program and make more money than we do significantly higher but you know what we're very fortunate are enters program we pay our insurance for troopers in the family so that's a benefit for so you know our goal of lease one of my goals before I leave the agency is we want to be the highest paid agency in the state you know I think state police is very professional the leak. Yeah and I justify that by saying you do this you know like this morning we're doing an interview for troops cool in almost everybody came to they want to be part of the elite law enforcement agency in the state and I think we need paratroopers for that. I agree with you. Percent. We need we need to continually look at that if you could give us a A report comparing this state by state take it into consideration fringe benefits hammer verses there so we will have that number to look at. do do you feel that Let me ask you this have you have you and I don't know whether this hello to be possible. Have you ever looked at the traffic Cale all vehicles statewide. Two years ago. How many troopers you had to cover a say five hundred vehicles rent. It is located recently yes Sir we're kind of doing a reallocation study things we look at like traffic accident traffic tickets so we we costly look at that and evaluate you know where the needs of the state or because most of the growth now the northwest Arkansas also we're looking to move different troopers you know we just were very fortunate the legislature back as we bill five new headquarters the biggest one is in tree bill and that's where the population growth of Arkansas is in northwest Arkansas so we can do is she continuously the evaluate those kind of areas you know what's concerning to us right now is of Italian rate is up it's up a hundred seventeen over compared to last year and then fourthly were see where our tickets a hundred plus miles an hour me we've written more tickets already then the last year or a hundred miles an hour so people need to slow down and the need to wear a seatbelt. This is to in thank you thank you Mr chairman thank you Carol yes Sir thank you all right of Representative Baltz you're recognized for a question he met thank you madam chair so I agree I think you should be paid better so can you tell me. in relation to what of the department of transportation officers may compared to what your guys make your gentlemen and ladies my. Yes ma'am I'm do is kind of from memory I think they're around thirty nine or forty up you know last time I talked to the chief of the highway police think there in that salary range but again we have the benefit where we get our insurance paid for okay and also I'd like that kind of a and a little bit that you know this is a very tough job mail of you know we on the average we look at last five years we lost about twenty seven troopers year to retirement or we've had some actually go be a barber because they make more money couldn't hear the can't meet a trooper. So we definitely need to look at Los force was a hole in a I believe secretary cooking expand on this as far as you know the task force to the governor put together looking at the law enforcement in those areas I think. you know we're worried about attrition of of our law enforcement officers around the state so I think we're looking for to the release of those the task force recommendations on how we can improve law enforcement. Absent about you he done yes Sir thank you thank you Representative Wooten you're recognized. Thank you Mr. Do you have you made a good point about is it dangerous out there. Was out there it was at night this twenty four seven to house my understanding from what I see in the media and read the do you have any incident increase of relative to troopers work and performances the highway patrol division stopping cars. It is increasing where they're having Having to deal with difficult situations. Yes I'll tell you this I will look up some numbers for you I have here as far as all for involved shootings around the state you but that to the Arkansas state police is assist agency we so we assist a lot of police departments the sheriff's department around the state I'm sure this within the last month we've lost two officers in the line of duty around state Kevin Collins with the the palm of police department and recently alter Wallace with the help of the police department both were died by gunfire secretary took an hour talking the other day since I've become the director state police six years ago we very thirteen officers have been killed a lot of duty in this state. And we're seeing violence is up alter involved shootings are up around the state I'll give you just a couple numbers here in twenty twenty. With the department's an offer of all shootings we did nineteen of those. in twenty nineteen we did thirty one officer involved shootings. so you know it's of follows is up against the police not only here in Arkansas but I think nationwide. So. This is to oral comments so any any suggestion that the phone the police is absolutely from the societal state important. With that we'll just leave the chaos in an integrator greater extent of violence. Hodges o'kane occasion. Get the drift of that movement. the some of the very people the. They will suffer from that so the very people the others are saying that they're mistreated that's not true. Yes majority the but who they don't call when they have a drive by shooting or who they're going to call when they have a murder in the home or in the street if you don't have the police it is just this is what it leads to if you do away with the police you'll end up with a federal law enforcement above and beyond the of the it'll be the army. In leased to socialism and that is exactly what communism is all about and if we don't work out that's where we're headed promise you that thank you Mr chairman. Yes Sir seeing no further questions. take a motion I have a motion to have second this is a direct by the way all those in favor say aye. All opposed ayes have it thank you guys thank you Mr chairman so with that we'll move on to to emergency management and Mister Coleman you're recognized thank you Mr chairman. Page five hundred eighty three you can see the division summary for the division of emergency management as total fifteen appropriations adding up to a little over two hundred twenty one million dollars is there. The first one with the change level is the state operations appropriation okay on page page five eighty three and your manuals. Sorry five eighty five most. This preparation represents the state operations portion of emergency management. The federal government provides matching funds for day to day non disaster operations of the agency. There are minor changes in salaries personal services matching and overtime pay for fiscal twenty one authorized. And the minor changes in salaries let's see a loss of place and the agency is requesting a general revenue funding increase and amounts near one hundred eighty thousand dollars for each year of the biennium executive recommendation provides for the agency request appropriation only. A next changeable is the federal operations appropriation on pot page five eighty seven. It's appropriation represents a federal operations of the emergency services program and is fully funded by FEMA salary personal services matching overtime and capital outlay line items show changes for fiscal year twenty one authorized amounts the capital outlay appropriations in the amount of one million two hundred seventy one thousand dollars for both years of the biennium will be used for server replacements which is an honorable on an uninterruptible power supply batteries along with audio video systems and other technologies the executive recommendation provides for the agency request. The emergency operations center cash appropriation can be found on page five ninety one in your manuals. Is cash and treasury appropriations look used to supplement operations and equipment expenses for the emergency operations center located at camp Robinson. Funny came from installment payments from the sale of the old emergency operations center in Conway the agency has a question appropriation in the amount of one hundred ninety five thousand one hundred fifty five dollars for both use the biennium check your recommendation provides for the agency requests. Emergency emergency management federal surplus property program appropriation is located on page five hundred ninety three in your manuals. The program acts as a broker in securing access property from the federal government which is made available to state and local governments along with eligible schools and hospitals operating funds come from the fees charged for services which consist of transportations and handling charges. On two point five million dollars requested for each year the biennium their changes in salaries personal services matching in overtime for fiscal year twenty one authorized four hundred and nineteen thousand dollars requested in capital outlay for each year of the biennium for replacement of vehicles and purchase of a pole barn for storage the executive recommendation provides for the agency request. Our next change level is the hazardous materials hazardous materials appropriation locate on page five hundred ninety five in your manuals. The state office of hazardous materials emergency management implements and an axe emergency planning and supports local emergency planning committees and response and recovery actions related to hazardous and toxic accidents within Arkansas. Operation is half funded from special revenues from fees charged under the pageant hazardous storage facilities in the state the other half is matched by the federal government. Like many of the previous appropriations ten thousand dollars been removed from the overtime pay in addition to that changes can be seen salaries personal services matching capital outlay capital outlay request of ninety thousand dollars for each year of the biennium is for the replacement of a hazmat track the executive recommendation provides for the agency requests for both use the biennium with those fifth would boast fiscal years appropriations total is hovering around eight hundred twenty million dollars. Disaster relief trust is on page five hundred ninety seven of your manuals. The Arkansas disaster relief program provides assistance to victims of statewide and federally to declare disasters funds are collected through donations and the Arkansas income tax check off program agency requested identical for both years of the upcoming biennium at five hundred sixty eight thousand nine hundred sixty five dollars this includes an increase in grants and aid appropriation of just under fifty four thousand dollars for both years the biennium to be utilized in the case of an emergency exactly recommendation provides for the agency request. In exchange live on pay six hundred seven in your manuals is the Arkansas public safety trust administration appropriation. This provides for administration administrative expenses associated with a public safety trust fund. Avenues for this fund or dispersed monthly from the public safety fund and up to at a total up to one hundred sixty eight thousand dollars annually. Agencies requesting one hundred sixty eight thousand dollars for both use the biennium to the decrease around twelve thousand dollars per year to better align with incoming revenues the exact recommendation provide for the agency request. The Arkansas wireless info network appropriation is located on page six hundred thirteen in your manuals. Yeah when appropriation is funded by general revenues from the miscellaneous agencies fund the agency is requesting about seven point four million dollars for both your the biennium appropriation requests include the transfer of one position a shared services reallocation of five thousand dollars from operating expenses the conference and travel the reduction operating expenses in the amount of five hundred fifty thousand dollars for both years of the biennium that was duplicated do transformation executive recommendation provide for the agency requests for appropriation only. Mister chairman I believe that is all the change that was for the department of emergency management. Thank you miss Coleman any questions. Representative Payton you're recognized. Thirty six I'm sorry thank you Mr chair I'm just giving over this real quick especially by page five eighty three a. Considering we've been operating under the state of emergency for nine months I'm surprised that your budget numbers haven't been been blown out of the water so. So what parts of this budget have been affected by the emergency we've been under for the last nine months. Representative I would I would defer that to the agency if I could okay. If we could get somebody from the agency. You would introduce yourself for the record thank good afternoon agent you're the director of the Arkansas division of emergency management. Okay so can you point out in the. In the budget for twenty twenty one you know what's been affected You know I would have expected this in some major effects here but you're coming in hundred and ten million dollars under budget. Yes so this is our I mean we we deal with disasters off on a regular basis of course the pandemic is is huge and and more than we have dealt with before but there's been other funding that has come in so we haven't had to really get the and to the I guess are what I would say our normal disaster type funding I'll legislators to help put up I think it's around seventy five million that we could purchase BP that we were able to get into the to the state and an out to to our folks that run through your office on I'm not Senator arm well it ran through day after day we we helped with the logistics piecing getting all of that out actor you men are federal surplus property help with the logistics With a lot of other state agencies of volunteer time departure transportation one so we were able to you know push that product out to our hospitals long term care so I guess my question is. If the current pandemic and emergency and state of emergency has has created a. A large tidal wave of spending within your agency is that going to become a new baseline or should we be budgeting in the in the future to yield. As a reduction from your baseline. Hopefully this pandemic won't continue to the next fiscal year yeah I and I agree I hope it doesn't continue either most of the funding in the appropriation the we used to respond to the pandemic came to the cares that came to the federal government and came through the carriage act appropriations that we set up during the fiscal session which run to DFA run to the governor steering committee all that now Adam has been instrumental in setting up the the purchasing if you member early on we couldn't by PP we couldn't buy ventilators of once we got it we there's a shortage statewide so Adam played a major role in all of that but what you're looking at with their budget is much more we hold. The routine business of emergency management responding to storms responding to flooding responding to of fires eccentric center we hold the pandemic is just like you describe it a short term thing that we don't have to build in the budget long term. Well but it seems we have there's a fifty million dollar increase. Going forward in the next two fiscal years. Over the twenty twenty one budget. It goes from one seventy three to two twenty one at the fiftieth nearly a fifty million dollar increase. So either we're expecting the. State of emergency to continue for two more years or are we just absorbent a new bass line and and still hiking it by fifty million. A trust me when I said I'd like to blame code for that increase but I'm not sure. Specifically. It looks like on from twenty one to twenty two in terms of authorized amount the appropriations not growing that much now if you compare to actual sent a budget. A lot of what we're looking at here again because we're we're talking about emergency situations so we don't know what's going to come down the pipe and we don't know in particular th emergency management we don't know how much time we're going to have to respond to it so a lot of the appropriation that you're looking at here is kind of a what if contingency appropriation specifically earmarked to the states ability to respond to whatever disaster comes down the pipe I appreciate that but the what if was a hundred and seventy three million in twenty to twenty one budget. Only spent seventy million of that so you know you had over over two hundred percent of the need covered and we're still them or saying that most of the covered stuff didn't go through this budget but we're still raised about fifty million going forward. Make it body and to come up and help us out on their it looks like the increase is there is the disaster relief grants line and my guess is we had additional funding made available through that line. That's five hundred thousand. Well. one Bobby America on the deputy finance director The way the what what I'm seeing here is the budget that showing a hundred seventy three million is that's what we budgeted for that fiscal year so the budget is based on what we could actually had funding I guess to to match with that so it is going to be a little bit less in the biennium we budgeted more in hopes that we will get the funding to go with that so I think that was is creating some of that difference. So the expectation is to spend everything we get our hands on. Those present. Well now it but if there is a need that that comes up we want to be able to have that ability to to spend it if we need to so I'm just trying to make sure that when the need comes up and we spent it that doesn't become a new baseline going forward. Because you know if I go out to my service department and say Hey we're going to do some remodeling and we're gonna fix up we're gonna really push for the next six months. There's no back in up on me you know you hire new people and you don't want. You know to get rid of them. So I'm in this is an emergency. Division to take care of those exceptional things that happen. The you don't want to become a bass line that we're just government. Your going forward. Right and I thank you Bobby incorrectly from all but the the money would not be spent unless we had like an event like a new madrick this type of via that hit us and there was no other funding I guess that we could use that we could pull from that and also for matching funds with that be correct right and and you know some there were some much of us you know we're federally funded so we we do have I can to twenty one appropriation we do keep extra in there for that time that we do like the two thousand ice storms actually when it got increase to a hundred million dollars in grant money so and it's just there in case we have that big event that we need to prepare for. The understand but under that line of thinking the sky's the limit I mean why don't we go ahead and budget five billion so thank you thank you Mr chair. Thank you. Representative Ladyman you're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman. A Mister Gerry I eat I will lay the ice storm was brought up to two thousand I storm and I participated in that and and not from executive standpoint and I realize that you know you need to have the equipment. To be able to respond to emergencies like that so my question can relate to that on the page five eighty seven. for it if it's talked about capital outlay in your increasing that. from four thousand to one point two million and I think I missed what that was for. the do you know what that increase funding was for what what kind of equipment that was for. It was for the replacement of network services switches uninterruptible power supply to keep the system running also provides for the purchase of a. storage audio visual system and other technology equipment Bobby at the at the yes because of code with that is one thing we we did acquire and another federal grant which is the empty G. S. grant and it basically we were able to fund projects that help us respond to code and so some of that that's built in is for that purpose and to the cat I had for the reasoning for that is especially with this pandemic since we're operating as a unified command with the department of health we have the state emergency operations center set up department of health also has one set up over there as the experts on on the medical side so this equipment will allow us to have some real time visual communication between the two if we need to thank and also be used for or for any other disasters that we have. Okay what let me just talk a little bit about the asked one and then I'll ask you a question but. when I was mayor of northwest Arkansas during that ice storm and I happened B. and northeast Arkansas when my son was in getting operation. And in northwest Arkansas we could not get calls. out to Adam so my fire chief call me northeast Arkansas and I was able to call you you call Conway. So that a tell a story because the communications needs to be totally adequate and I mean that was a very severe storm but northwest Arkansas did not have adequate communications they could not contact central Arkansas and the direction of the calls was you could get out going other ways some of my question is do we have adequate communication I mean are there needs that you have or do you feel like word. We have adequate equipment to communicate effectively throughout the state during these emergencies. Hi yes Sir especially with some of the action that was taken in the left last legislative session with us being able to have the funding to upgrade the Arkansas wireless information that worker day when radio system we have a lot of agencies now up and worked west Arkansas that or on a weekend or in the process of going to they win radio system so because of that action that was taken we have those findings and upgrades and courses of racial will be going over the next couple years bill that communication will certainly be a lot better in and is better now than it was during the the the two thousand ice storm but that will leave or improve with the a when upgrades that we have that all of our first responders everybody can communicate throughout the state. Even in the less populated areas of the state does that all Hey we and yes in fact all of the other counties have at least one a win radio that they can utilize for command and control that they will be able to talk talk back and then we also have some mobile sites on wheels that we could deploy if we had a tower down or something due to a storm we can deploy that to keep that communication going. All right of Mister J. one more question. Okay on page of five ninety five. The a hazardous materials and there again I'll the capital outlay had a question about that. Your your increasing that by thirty thousand dollars and I don't remember what that was for thank you said that was for vehicle or something is that correct A yes Sir that is a a one ton truck that we use to hall of equipment for training for a hazmat respond okay so same question here do you will it Mr Gerry. That we have the necessary equipment and means to respond to has Mets bills and that sort of thing and specifically I'm a little concerned about railroads in northeast Arkansas specifically we have a lot of hazardous materials that come through there on trains are are we adequately equipped to respond to those kind of emergencies are we are and with the with the training that we're able to do with those local fire departments and so forth so that they have that training up there to be able to respond to that and so yeah I think you know I think we do can we do more of you know certainly yell as was mentioned earlier sky's the limit if we had more money we could probably do more but I think were were were set pretty good in Arkansas with that with the training that we do with our local fire departments and with some of our regional response teams that we have that can go when help other other counties and I know the real road up in northeast Arkansas works really close with the. A local fire departments and so forth. More thing that you the new madrick fault was mentioned in because that's a concern up in northeast Arkansas as well and do you feel good about responding and in case of a earthquake you know that's that's been predicted and there's a possibility there are we well equipped and prepared to respond to those kind words is we have or are quite a program that does a lot of uh training we do exercise on that we were close with the all federal partners and also the National Guard DOD so we do our exercises so. If and when a new madrick hits it will be a very you know devastating of AT and will you know we're part of the central United States earthquake consortium so we work closely with our surrounding states that can assist us in that we can assist them depending on where the most of that damages as so in we also have our emergency management assistance compact with all of our the rest of the states in our territories that we can bring resources you have now we have to search and rescue teams in the state of Arkansas that are made up of a local agencies we work very close with them we help fund does some of their stuff to our grants a Quitman so that they can respond and be ready to respond. Well I for one would be a willing to support if you have needs qualifying needs for equipment for emergency response I'd be glad to to work with you on that thank you Sir yes. In early you're recognized. What thank you Mr chair this is a follow on to the new madrick question which I don't have to ask now I'll be but it's are there funds or is it even considered to be prudent to have any kind of Our guests out reach to let the public know house so what our response should be in the event of new med Dred come into fruition here yeah we do a lot of outreach record Sir we just finished I believe it was October with the check out so what what I'm sorry with the shake out which is a national program I think we had last year we had record numbers of Arkansas citizens that is signed up for I think probably may have slowed some of those numbers down this year to participate in it but we had does some really good numbers with our and that's our citizens finding of going through an earthquake drill and their homes. Right about it I mean I I I realize I could have just missed it but how. I we do a lot of public out reaches specially in the the northeast part of state which would be impacted the most now we do have schools and individuals from other parts of the state that sign up but we we push out a lot of information distribute a lot of information we work with the counties emergency managers especially and the northeast section of the state to make sure that we get you all that information out to a there's also some programs on assisting on things as simple as Our. The not can figure official name but actually securing hot water tanks and home securing him to the wall or if they have to have a horrible hot water tank up in the attic area to secure that there's also some private partnerships with companies that actually supplies some of those some of the and so it is so you feel comfortable then that just average everyday people I'm not talking about are you know folks in our agencies that average people kind of have a and I handle on what to do how to respond that that out reaches is sufficient at the at the date your question ma'am we we do a lot of outreach that this kind of like a a lot of other things house how for to people individually prepare for you know even even our our normal disasters and doesn't just hours Pulaski County I just I I mean it's possible I could have just missed it but you talk about on the the check out the the out whatever you're doing just for every citizens and I'll how to react what they should do yeah we do this for a minute speeches pushed out of state wide but of course our main focus is the the northeast because that would be the the biggest impact from from the new madrick is that all I keep trying to read that is down top of it and because I I mean I realize that's the central focus but I keep reading that the you know the fallout will also reach this far and that's fine the that's far as concerned about it but I guess I'll follow up with you about that because I've certainly missed on that out reach and and I we don't have to belabor it all right here but I will do that and I'll be glad to send some stuff out to you that kind of something we've got excellent because I did thank you thank you Mr chair thank center of rich Galen take this opportunity to tell you how much I appreciate you guys help them with the city of Carthage there is a water shortage and you know everybody takes for granted you guys respond to storms but you guys respond to any emergency and I just want to you thank you for that that meant a lot. To those people. Representative rye you're recognized. Yes Sir thank you Mr chair of gearing if you go back to nineteen to twenty twenty one there was a change there on Arkansas public safety traversed. That was one of the biggest things Gary. And then. This year of your gone from a sixty million two hundred and four but actually that's a disaster relief grant Gary so if you can you can explain to us you miss on page five eighty three. I sure does and so are. All the first service before we we knew exactly how much was committee and as I which I love you and yeah that was. Okay the on the public safety trust fund the first that thirty one million was the actual so I think for that year and we didn't actually start getting those monies into the agency and and dispersing I'm until think we started receiving monies in November of that year so it's really not a full year and nice so and the rest of those are or what we budgeted I guess for those yes ma'am and that's already been okay for this year I think the biggest thing about this is on that two to one of disaster relief grants from sixty to one oh four six C. there's forty five forty four forty five main bearing a will is that a grant from federal or. A that's what we were we were discussing a little bit early but we we actually budget a lot more because of the two thousand Ostrom we were talking about we budget a whole lot more in their if we don't thank you know if an event doesn't come up we actually block that budget down and so we only budget it's the sixty million because you know and that way it's there in case we do have that big ice storm or earthquake then we can actually will have the funding to go with that and we increases so it's really just there. In case management it is that federal money. Yes Sir well okay there's no rush. Thank you. Representative eight. At six forty five no you Ladyman I'm sorry and go ahead and that's all right we'll it saying that as true. Thank you Mr chairman of Mister Gerry that information you want to send that I think it would be good if you sent that to the chairman. And and get that out I I I participate in the shake it you talked about a issue and and I know that there's a high concentration of training up in that area and I actually did some training myself and a lot of people in other parts of the state may not realize all the work that's been done up there the coordinating the schools and the colleges in the businesses and have an a list of equipment and all that you know creating green county we've done that in a lot of people are aware that so might be good send a lot of information to the chair and get out to everybody so they know are yes Sir we will do that. Thank you Representative I'm. See no further questions drive motion for exactly record motion represent Beck second Representative Jean all those in favor say aye. Proposed eyes have it so with that Mister Coleman will move on to the crime laboratory thank you thank you Mr chairman of the crime lab division summary can be found on page six fifteen your manuals is your quest does a just under eighteen point two million dollars for both years the biennium or the exactly recommendations for around eighteen point eight million dollars each year for the for total appropriations. First preparation to change the law is the crime lab federal appropriation which can be found on page six seventeen of your manuals. Says funded by grants from the US department of justice enabling the state crime lab outsource backlog DNA case work along state lied analysts to process current DNA cases keep the backlog as small as possible. He's grant funds are also used to train analyst examiners which is necessary to uphold the labs accreditation status. The second recommendation provide for the agency requested a little under two point three million dollars for both your the biennium regular salaries and personal services matching slows show slight increases and a reallocation one hundred sixty five thousand dollars from construction operating expenses will be utilized to purchase supplies for daily case work. Seven hundred fifty thousand dollars as quested for both your the biennium under the capital outlay line item for replacement of aging equipment due to technological advancements. Our next change level for the crime lab. Is the crime lab state appropriation on page six hundred twenty one. Appropriations for the primary operations of the state crime lab and is funded by general revenue to the miscellaneous agencies fund uniformed filing fees collected in circuit court and a transfer from the AJ fund agency may also request medical marijuana funding agency is requesting roughly thirteen million dollars each year the biennium with a slight increase from year to year about five thousand dollars. Is your question include a few changes including positional transfers along with salaries personal services matching eighty one thousand dollars and operating expenses and one thousand seven hundred fifty dollars and conference and travel to shared services. It also capital outlay request of five hundred fifteen thousand dollars from the. For each year from the medical marijuana funding to purchase equipment for drug in toxicology sections. For the more days he's requesting reallocation of one million dollars from the Arkansas crime information system fund along with a dish increase of six hundred and six hundred seventy million dollars for each of the biennium respectively. Exactly recommendation provide for the agency requests for appropriation and the one million dollar reallocation of general revenue from the Arkansas crime information system fund. The one the executive recommendation also provides additional appropriation for salary and personal services matching along with a student loan incentive program FOR medical examiner positions. Last change level for the crime lab is the DNA special appropriation on page six hundred twenty three of your manuals. Appropriation provide FOR personal services and operating expenses to support the DNA database funding for this appropriations special revenue from mandatory fines of no less than two hundred fifty dollars for persons required to submit DNA samples. Sentencing court does have discretion it'd Mrs fine if it determines that would cause undue hardship. Agencies requesting Sally over one point nine million dollars for each year of the biennium which includes the following changes two hundred fifty thousand dollar increase each year for operating expenses to purchase supplies for the in A section. An increase of one hundred fifty thousand dollars each year for professional fees to outsource property DNA case work capital outlay request of two hundred fifty thousand dollars each year to purchase replacement equipment is in the DNA section the process daily cases the executive wreck provides for the agency request Mr chair I believe that includes the crime lab change levels. We have a question for Senator hammer do you want to get the crime lab to the tables and. Yes Sir okay start here they come. If you would introduce yourself for the record and senator hammer's recognized for a question. Afternoon permit channel on the director the state crime lab. Afternoon could you just give us an update about hiring I cannot remember the title of the gentleman or lady that you're trying to hires first we've had several discussions in committee where we on that we still have the not had any successful candidates for the position of chief medical examiner or associate medical examiner so that still leaves us those two positions short. And that's part of of the budget request basically is to allow us to be more so Aggressive if you will on the recruitment of a candidate which would allow us of course to offer above the maximum salary with the approval of committee so we're hoping that will entice some candidates to the state of Arkansas and with that we're working on a tuition reimbursement of which will allow us to reimburse a of principal colleges for portion of their tuition and with that they will have to actually agree to sign up for an additional two years of employment with a Max cap of a hundred thousand a hundred thousand dollars so I think these are good incentives to offer and hopefully will be successful because quite frankly if if we aren't able to recruit French pathologists to the state then we're gonna be having some issues in the future so do you think you've got all the tools in the toolbox you need in order to be able to attract the candidate send that you've been trying to get I do Senator hammer I think this is a very positive step forward two again you make in our salaries appropriate with the should be because jobs are plentiful out there and I think this is going to give us all the tools in our toolbox to recruit successfully okay and another note just keeping it on the front. Table for discussion about your facilities over there I know that having to route your facility as many other legislative probably have that your how far out are you into your in dire straits because and it and is that going to interfere with any type of certification for your agency because of the conditions of the facility itself I know get the chief medical director examiners a critical component keeping that but what about the conditions of the facility will it have a detriment to being able to keep that certification. Senator hammer I think that it will and I think that we're gonna have to pay attention to the infrastructure facility expressly of the board of my store with medical examiner's office back in nineteen eighty seven and other than lighting there's not a whole lot that it has changed so I think that's one of the key components that I believe the the state's going to have to look at and examine in time because it you know that the that's an important factor we all know the par recruiting isn't just salary it's the comfort in the facility that you have to work in and we're competing with other states and so that's a that's a big piece of the puzzle I hope that's it's not going to toward our efforts at this time to recruit but it's something that we're gonna have to consider in the future. Yeah I'd like now to a coach come looking at a team where they want to take your not based on the facilities that they have so I know if that's a good analogy or not but I'd I don't want to see the certification be jeopardized because of the facilities either absolutely alright thank you thing Mr. Thanks under center for the questions we have motion a motion represent Ladyman of second. Represent Jean all those in favor say aye. All opposed ayes have it with that we'll move on to the crime information center Coleman you're recognized thank you Mr chairman Arkansas crime information center division summary can be found on page two hundred sixty five in your manuals into the question just under six million dollars six million nine hundred thirty dollars for each year of the upcoming biennium for the five appropriations associated with a crime information center. The first change level is the first appropriation listed on the division summary which is the A. C. I. see operations appropriation a CIC is responsible for the state's law enforcement of criminal justice information management system. Appropriation is used for personal services and operating expense of the of the agency funding comes from general revenue and special revenue consisting of background check fees and D. W. I. finds regular salaries appropriation does include board member state and payments. Agency requesting over six million dollars in preparation for both your the biennium just over two point five million in general revenue funding for both of those years. Request includes the following changes a transfer of twenty one positions and salaries and personal services matching to shared services reallocation of above forty thousand dollars in operating expenses and one thousand seven hundred fifty dollars and conference and travel to shared services and the one million dollar reallocation previously mentioned in the crime lab crime lab fund account. The executor nation provide for the agency request. Our last change level. And. Crime information center is the national criminal history improvement program the OJ federal grant appropriation A this is fully funded by a grant awards. The I'm sorry that's on pace six hundred thirty five or manuals sorry about that this is fully funded by a grant awards it's agencies requesting. Six hundred forty five thousand dollars of appropriation each of the biennium which reflects the continuation of miscellaneous federal grants for approved by the a OC peer subcommittee in July twenty twenty executive wreck provides for this agency request. Mister chairman I believe that includes the change levels in the crime information center Senator hammer do you want to director yes Sir we could. If you would Sir introduce yourself for the record and sent hammer you're recognized red because or direct the Arkansas crime information center. Thank you Mr good afternoon the question I had was at one time a couple years ago or maybe even a bit longer I think there was a question about the backlog of cases being injured in so when a police officer stops somebody they were deal with real time as far as you know are are all the convictions in March and everything can you just give us an update as to where we are today and is that is that information current or how's that being dealt without in the state as far as law enforcement agencies entering that information if that's their responsibility thanks for to provide it's not law enforcement agencies do that that the information we get for entry into provider for records come from the court either directly OR through A OC. Are we really have no backlog on current cases that I'm saying you know that are six seven years older less our major backlog of the from very old cases par the Intergraph at was mentioned before is we did a competitive bid and hired a company who is been going around the state and finding old missing dispositions force of done a very good job of that so. Where were increasing the numbers that we have I've been missing for all cases not they were fairly current on new cases. Second we an ongoing contract with a company or to make sure we don't fall behind it is an ongoing contract in fact the into grants that were mentioned were we receive for two thousand eighteen two thousand nineteen we were just awarded last week at two thousand twenty injured grant which would add another half million dollars into that contract for them to continue helping find missing dispositions it should be your testimony today this farce the courts having done what they're supposed to do to get that information and put it into the system that would you say were ninety eight percent ninety nine percent would you hang or percentage as far as how Kerr we are. Their on again hanging percentage on I can say that I mean you part of part of the issue of getting records in our system is how long it takes somebody get through the court system F. A. R. C.'s got more like tronic we get those in faster of and probably the biggest back well over the biggest missing part we have a newer cases will be misdemeanor cases from District Court of the working on that as well but I I don't think I could has if they are feel comfortable putting any kind of percentage of where we are on that other than to say I mean is we get the information in our office we entered immediately we don't have a working backlog in the office okay very good thank you thank you Sir. Representative Ladyman you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair of director Cozart hi my question is on page six twenty five. And the line item there about. Six child offender registration that program is really important to local police chiefs and and other state agencies I'm sure as well but it shows that you only spent nineteen hundred dollars last year which have. Sixty thousand. I mean are we doing enough on matter could more be done I mean it's really important that information gets out unless I'm in the wrong ball park your to police chiefs when. People move offenders move around and move in close to schools and all and in the middle but involved in that and then it's important at that information gets out there quickly is is it being adequately done I mean could you spend more money and do a better job there I appreciate that question the our current system is a fully electronic system that that works very well for use or from the law enforcement that allows the of the entry of sex offenders interstate either who were convicted Arkansas or move here it is in dire need of an upgrade and we are we are currently applied for and received three separate federal grants will SUB grants from the department of finance administration one new grant to be approved by committing day after tomorrow it will be used to one five a contractor to help us upgrade and build a new six center system we've done a large study around the state of our what law enforcement wants to see in addition to what we're doing now so our plans is to build one from scratch that meets everybody's requirements and needs and desires but our current system works well it's just antiquated. So do you have adequate funding you know going into next year for that system on. There are right now are are anticipated costs over long term rebuilding the system fully out of probably will over a million dollars we've got probably a little over six hundred thousand federal money committed so far obviously we can't spend a million one year and they're certainly I think we will continue to get some federal grants so my hope is that as we get this thing built over the next two years the majority will be paid for with grant funding. We can't do it in one year. Well it's real important I think most of my colleagues feel the same way thank you. The Representative of so with that see no further questions on a motion motion represent Jean second by represented back all those in favor say aye. All opposed as have it so with that we'll move on to of law enforcement standards Mister Coleman you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair. The law enforcement center training division summary can be found on page six hundred and thirty seven and all these have changeable so go through all of them we'll start with page six hundred thirty nine shows a law enforcement standards operation appropriation. Agency request includes the following changes a transfer of four positions sociais cost to the shared services appropriation. Transfer of two positions to nine one one training and education reallocation of around fifty one thousand dollars in operating expenses and twenty eight hundred dollars in conference and travel to shared services an increase in operating expenses around one hundred fifteen thousand dollars for both years of the biennium for food and training academy for food for training academies sorry fictive wrecked provide for the NC a quest for appropriation only. Page six forty one shows a nine one one training and education appropriation. The now funded by distributions from the Arkansas public safety trust fund an amount up to two hundred fifty thousand dollars per fiscal year agencies requesting just under three hundred thousand dollars for each year of the upcoming biennium is include the following changes transfer of two positions from law enforcement standards operation and a transfer out of one position to the law enforcement training program negative read provides for the agency requests. Page six forty three shows the following law enforcement officers appropriation which provides for personal services operating expenses and grants to provide support and assistance to beneficiaries of fallen law enforcement officers. Funding for this appropriation is a special revenue generated by license plate fees. NC is a question fifty thousand dollars for each year the biennium this includes transfer of twenty five thousand dollars an appropriation from the following law enforcement officers general revenue appropriation which was used for the same purpose with the separate funding source executive wreck provides for this agency request. Page six hundred forty five as a lot to do with that last one which shows the phone law enforcement officers general revenue appropriation as previously mentioned agency wish to transfer twenty five thousand dollars appropriation to the fall on law enforcement officers appropriation to discontinue this preparation historically utilized for the same purposes last one. Page six hundred forty seven shows the law enforcement training program appropriation used for personal services and operating expenses of the law enforcement training program agencies requesting two hundred thirty thousand dollars each year the biennium production of seventy thousand dollars for fiscal year twenty one authorized you to anticipated revenues check your recommendation provide for this agency request. Our final appropriation on page six hundred forty nine as a special training cash appropriation funding a collected from state agencies for use of the training academies facilities and issues a questing appropriation of one hundred forty three thousand dollars for each year the biennium production of one hundred eighty seven thousand for fiscal year twenty one authorized anticipated revenues negative wreck provides for this agency request. The chairman that concludes my presentation on law enforcement standards and training. They would have secretary cook in the audience I have a question for her. You would introduce yourself a record and represent a wooden you're recognized okay Jamie Kerr director the commission on law enforcement standards and training and secretary of department public safety. Secretary my question deals with training down. There and hit your other facilities. Do do you feel you have a love for up. Of funding to be able to address the situations like George Floyd that we can avoid those at least make an attempt to training to be able to avoid those situations and circumstances that we're hearing so much about not just is but several others that have occurred. Are you are you trying about mental health in the appropriate physical contact in the use of firearms and that planning. Yes Sir I feel really confident that our training is very comprehensive it's five hundred twenty hours and thirteen weeks in that followed with FTO programs that are conducted by the department you know we have eight sessions of the police academy going in the state every year plus two from Black River but eight or funded in this that's an increase of two from when I first became director we run and well that's actually increase at three we were we were running three Camden and to that Springdale because we and we know the value of smaller classes we've added another class of the northwest Alita and then two sessions of the cat a me at central leader with the our partnership with camp Robinson. So we're running ten academies a year in the state and I think that and we did all that was no new money so I think that we do a phenomenal job with what we have but I can tell you were were were spread as thin as we can what the as we ought we as we can be right now do we provide the mental health training yes in ACT four twenty three two thousand seventeen it required of concentrated effort on the escalation and crisis intervention which we have incorporated an enhanced into our training academy you know is in here last Friday and judiciary and we talked extensively about this the task force reports gotta extensive review over what all where do and and training A to address the very issues that you're talking about of overwhelmingly the task force concluded that Arkansas is you know leaps and bounds ahead of other states in a lot of things that we're doing that we can improve and so we're going to continue to improve is one of our core values I think that were funded appropriately at this point time with our training academies because we also have a partnership with criminal justice institute and they offer a just to an incredible amount of advance and specialized training here in Arkansas were so very fortunate to have CJ I to partner up with us and delivering law enforcement training so I mean I think that were I think that we're doing a good job here in Arkansas can we do better by enters always gonna be yes to that question. For Mr chairman and do we have and we may have it in place we have a. The psychological testing of those individuals that are selected do you all do that at the academy or is that locally at how many departments do you know of in this state that perhaps are doing that to identify the applicant to submit not be suited to be a law enforcement. Thank you Representative Wooten of. Close rule ten oh two requires every police officer in the state of Arkansas to undergo a psychological evaluation before they can be appointed as a law enforcement officer that's psychological evaluation is is very comprehensive I can send you rule to know too that a show you the intensity of that examination it it does require a one on one interview with either a psychologist or a psychiatrist. Thank you Mr chairman thank you ma'am sector. Absent lady man you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair. A director cook I had a question on on six forty nine and the special training I just wondered that's broken out from other training what what is that programmer want why is special training broke at is that Something unique or is the very last page there six forty nine. The you have a hundred and forty three thousand budgeted for that. If. That's all cash fund of we charge like the we have a partnership with the fire academy down it came to and we provide meals for all the fire academy instructor of students you know because they train over it as a you which is on our campus and so that that this is the fun that that accumulates in. We we used to train the probation and parole officers down there and the department of correction community corrections would pay us you know for their meals and and lodging and stuff like this and this was the fund that that one into we're no longer going to train the PPO the probation parole officer so that's why we've passed for reduction in the appropriation for this particular account because we don't anticipate the revenues but that that's that's the fund that we capture those things in the corner training you know the corners have a A bill A were there funded for their training and we partner with the corners association to do that training and so they will give us the funding to do that training in this is the account that it goes into thank you. I see no further questions do I have a motion a motion represent Jean second from represent Wooten all those in favor say aye. All opposed house have it so with that members that is the end of our agenda for today tomorrow. Nine o'clock in here see them.