ALC-JBC Budget Hearings (9a-11:30A)

Members would grab a seat will go ahead and get started give me a few seconds to get to your seat. We'll start off with a With the fight given a special language support. In which the November the fourth at seven thirty AM to reports of following actions adoption of the agency's request to continue current language with no changes for the expensive per year for the following agency. Our mental health department of public safety department of energy and environment. Partminer corrections department agriculture natural resources commission to adoption of the executive recommendations regarding changes to the language of the following agency. Partminer health department of public safety department of energy and environment department of correction department of agriculture three adoption of legislative recommendations regarding changes to the language for the following agency department of of health the department of public safety department of energy and environment department of corrections the department of agriculture. Adoption the language approved a modified for the following agency department of agriculture. For the next meeting will be November the tenth at seven thirty AM and back today I moved for adoption of this report. That's proper motion drive second. I have a second all those in favor say aye. All opposed seven. Report is adopted so with that. We'll move on to a request from senator Chesterfield to talk to transformation secretary Amy of Fletcher. You would introduce yourself for the record and center Chesterfield you're in you're recognized thank you Mr chair there a couple of questions that I have dispatcher and you'll excuse me if there have been asked before a. Number one how much are we saving in transformation. Amy fed her secretary of transformations shared services. Senator Chesterfield that is something that we are working to get you all an act as as was requested during our budget hearing for presentation on November nineteenth are and then since you're doing that would you please be kind enough to break out what each agency savings ease each department we will apartment yes ma'am we don't column agencies anymore given that she's departments the department or the or the big fifteen hours that the big fifteen yes ma'am which you would point out those individual savings in each one of those in the big fifteen that's what we're trying that and my last question Mr chair is the one that I had asked about I am concerned because as I look across state government I see no minority contracts which would include ethnic minorities women and disabled veterans of over fifty thousand dollars and it is my understanding that a lot of that using your division could you tell me why there has been not there's not been more pro activity to try to attract a greater diversity of contracts of the state of Arkansas that was one of the first questions I had when I looked at our budget manual that we received from DFA because it showed our department is having no minority contracts so we went to pull that and there are nine statewide minority contracts through S. P. and in my division I've got some in within D. I. S. and in within building authority as well and I can get you a copy of the exact contracts so I called Mr blade over budget and and as we were discussing the process of why they're not in the budget manual it seems that when a contracts comes into S. P. they ask the vendor to self report if they are a minority or women owned business and it also includes veterans when they report that we send it over to the department of commerce within a. ADC there is a division for a minority and women owned businesses that focuses just on the US on outreach and on certifying these vision these vendors and saying that they are in the minority women or veteran owned and then that goes back once they are certified it goes into asus and eight this will identified that as you indicated some of them are not fifty thousand dollars and those are not required to be reported however what we've also found out is it would require a double entry because asus does not speak with our budget Software which is called P. bass and in the budget manuals what it's being pulled is from P. bass so some of the departments are not going and and doing that double injury they are entering it into a sense but they're not entering it into P. bass so that is a systems issue that I know we're working closely with the FAA to correct and I don't know if Mr well transformation there nine vendors is that what you're saying. I'm saying that there are nine statewide minority on contracts within the state. That that that departments can use as they can any other state by contract. Yes well thank you and if you would be so kind as to share that in and share with me the total number of vendors that we have in the state and let's see what kind of percentage that he's I would appreciate it I will thank you hi thank you Mr chair I appreciate you thank you senator see no further questions thank you. So with that we'll move on to the ag department. And with that will recognize miss Kathy Smith. Thank you Mr chairman we're going to start with Agroha today and it's going to be in manual for. Starting on page one forty five. Manual for page one forty five. The first thing we're gonna look at is our of the department of agriculture's administration and shared services that starts on page one forty five and that's going to take is three to page one forty eight with some additional information through one fifty two. In this it's going to include transfers of positions annex and those expenses associated with that overall sixty one authorized positions in three extra help it's at a total appropriation amount of a little over eight point seven million dollars in each year and I'll page one fifty two you show the amount that is transferred per business area and much of what is taking place in Agra our position changes re classifications title changes they just came up and personnel and so that was addressed in the personnel committee prior to this meeting. The executive recommendation is the agency request including the personnel costs and expenses all the administration and shared services FOR the aggro department the more moving on to page one fifty three. Our this is shows the overall ag department and on page one fifty four you'll see the department summary of all the appropriations this shows twenty five total appropriations we are still showing natural resources as a separate appropriation section so we'll deal with that after we get through with the ag department there are twenty five total appropriations we are many of them as I said are the leading are replacing of with shared services there's also going to be changes in sixteen of these the ad department has a total of five hundred thirty two positions that remain in these appropriations on page one fifty six. Is the aggro operations appropriation. They are asking to transfer positions of this particular part of of the operations operates the department the office of the secretary the forestry commission the state plant board and livestock and poultry it's funded by general revenue they're asking to transfer out positions extra help uniform allowance operating expenses conference and travel expenses and professional fees all to the shared their services appropriation that we just looked at they're also transferring Forster positions in calls to the forestry operations appropriation and they're requesting a restoration of their category de funding which was their general revenue that was cut it was reduced by a hundred eighty six thousand one hundred seventy four for each year of the biennium on page one fifty eight you'll see the results of these changes the executive recommendation on this appropriation is the agency request in the appropriation only the G. R. funding will remain at seventeen million three ninety one three twenty for the first year of the biennium and seventeen million four oh six nine twenty one in the second year of the biennium the next appropriation on page one fifty nine and one sixty this is their livestock and poultry and disease control and revocation program this is funded by a the per head of cattle sold in the state as well as fines and penalties. They are asking to change their transfer of operating expenses the portion that could with these to be transferred to shared services and they're they're asking for the restoration an increase of capital outlay in a total of a hundred twenty thousand dollars for equipment used by livestock inspectors and emergency response equipment the executive recommendation is for the agency request plus additional salary in match for all the reclassification of the positions that were explained in personnel this morning. Next is livestock and poultry a grading program this is can be found on pages one sixty one and three one sixty two. This is the a program that funded from a compulsory grading an inspection fees They use this of for a grading they are wanting to transfer one position including the salary imagine operating expenses to their shared services and the increase of a hundred thousand dollars which is a fifty thousand dollar increase above a previous amount for office equipment and rating for the grading staff and this will also include a vehicle purchase the executive recommendation is the agency request was the additional salary in match for the reclassification of the positions the public total position shows a reduction of one going from thirty nine authorized to thirty eight for this appropriation and that position was sit to shared services. Next is agriculture lab testing pages one sixty three and one sixty four. This is used to provide diagnostic lab testing for all species of livestock and poultry it consist of fees charged for those services that are performed on pages one sixty three and one sixty four you'll see this appropriation. They're asking to transfer funding of their operating expenses to their shared services they're asking to restore three hundred ten thousand dollars in capital outlay in this would be for replacement of lab testing machinery and equipment as well as new equipment due to the growth of poultry interest the industry in northeast Arkansas and they're asking for restoration of seven one thousand five hundred dollars for the national animal health laboratory network enhancement grant for mobile computer hardware and access information management system this was something that was received from MF G. miscellaneous federal grant up earlier in the year and the executive recommendation on this appropriation is the agency request. Next on page one sixty five and one sixty six or the ad rush premiums these are the fair associations and this is the funding to pay awards for those you'll notice on page one sixty six each of the fares is a detailed out with how much goes to each one of the agency is requesting restoration of their category a D. G. are of general revenue funding that was reduced that you're asking for that to a thirty six thousand four hundred sixty three dollars that was reduced from that appropriation earlier for that to be restored the executive recommendation is the agency request where the appropriation only the G. R. funding will remain at six ninety two eight oh nine for each year of the biennium. The next appropriation FOR agro I is on page one sixty seven and we're in manual for that page one sixty seven a manual for this is the livestock and poultry EC one infectious anemia of appropriation A to work to control the spread of that EC one infectious and maybe a and and an infectious and potentially fatal disease part of members of the horse family and this is funded by special revenue derived from fees assessed to Arkansas that Neri and the agency is asking for. Transferring of operating expenses to their shared services and they're asking for restoration of a hundred thousand dollars in capital outlay for office equipment used by the program the executive recommendation is for the agency request plus additional salary in match for reclassification of a position. A Texas to page one sixty nine this is the livestock and poultry animal health appropriation it is used to increase the level of protection preparedness and response and recovery should a foreign animal or disease into the state it's federally funded of the agencies not requesting any changes on this appropriation it's set out a little over six hundred and fifty thousand dollars for each year of the biennium the executive recommendation is the agency request plus additional salary in match for re classifications of positions. On page one seventy one three one seventy three is the appropriation for the plant board for the administration of plant board and pest control this is funded by special registration derived from registration of inspection fees from various fallout farm crops pesticide speeds fertilizers seeds it cetera also federal funding is made available to support this program on this appropriation the agency is requesting transfers six teen positions salary imagine operating expenses as well as professional fees to shared services they're asking to transferred the restored capital outlay of a hundred thousand dollars also a hundred thousand dollars to shared services they're asking for restoration of any MF G. which included extra help in match appropriation for the federal state inspection grading and auditing and certification of specialty crop programs and they're asking for restoration of fifty five thousand three hundred forty six dollars in licensing licensing and enforcement appropriation in each year for the development of a new pesticide licensing and enforcement case file management application and they're asking for restoration of nine hundred eighty five thousand dollars in capital outlay appropriation that would be for a fleet replacement and upgrading whether equipment. The details of that are seeing on page one seventy three the executive recommendation is for the agency request plus additional salary in match for reclassification of positions on pages one seventy four one seventy five is the plant boards public grain warehouse appropriation which monitors public grain warehouse companies itself funded by special revenues the agency is requesting a transfer of operating expenses to the shared services appropriation and the executive recommendation on this is the agency request on page one seventy six and one seventy seven is the plant boards pass surveillance. This appropriation is used to monitor the application and sale of handling pesticides funded by special revenues of the agency is requesting a transfer of operating expenses to their shared services appropriation that we looked at previously and the executive recommendations the agency request on page one seventy seven one seventy eight one seventy eight one seventy nine skews me is the plant board apiary appropriation for registered beekeepers I'd special revenue that funds this program they are asking to transfer operating expenses to shared services the executive recommendations the agency requests plus the additional salary in match that is needed for re classifications of positions in this appropriation on pages of one eighty and one eighty one is the Agra product marketing program it supports various programs on page one eighty you'll see the list of those programs that it supports organic cost year farmers markets and naturally Arkansas promotion audit the assistance and food safety promotion electronic benefits transfer and mark farmers market produce marketing association fresh so much so show and FOR culture workshop and A this is funded of from. A plant board funds federal funds that they receive and they're requesting the restoration of three positions with salary in match that was previously transferred from an MF G. that they got earlier in the year as well as restoration of thirteen thousand dollars in overtime with two thousand nine hundred ninety nine in personal services matching they're requesting eighty seven thousand to ten and operating expenses eighty seven thousand to ten a conference and travel and three that hundred thousand grants in aid this is all from there MSG that they received earlier the executive recommendation is the agency request on page one eighty two and one eighty three is the plant board pass plant regulation program there are no changes being requested in this appropriation and that is the agency's request as well as the executive recommendation on page one eighty four. One eighty five is the Agra university scholarship program this is where they wore grants two university of FOR scholarships and internships this were funded from civil penalties collected by the state plant board it actually goes to four different universities five thousand dollars each to you a division of aggro I a issue Agra eighty U. aggro department an essay you aggro department there no changes being requested that appropriation and that's the executive recommendation as well. Nexus forestry operations this is their special revenue of four that a portion of the agriculture department some pages one eighty six the one eighty eight of this basically supports the op a general rations of the forestry commissions it comes from special revenue from the timbers are severance tax and fire protection taxes it comes from federal revenue and far service grants as well as other revenues collected for fire protection prescribed burn fees they're seedlings sales and sales and timber sales of the agency on this is requesting transfer of seven positions that including the salary and match as well as their uniform allowances appropriation some operating expenses and professional fees to the shared services appropriation FOR Agra their quick requesting the transfer made up to transfer their restore capital outlay of a hundred thousand dollars to shared services they're requesting restoration of two positions from an MF G. that they receive that the miscellaneous federal grant and that was for salary in match appropriation as well as operating expenses and grants and aid for the forest action plan their requesting to transfer Ian thirteen Forrester positions from the previous aggro operations appropriation they're requesting restoration of one million seven hundred ninety three thousand dollars in capital outlay appropriation each year and this goes for the replacement of the does your transport units that's for and as well as replacement of a transportation fleet of pick up trucks of transport trucks and dozers they're asking for reallocation of thirty thousand dollars from the restore capital outlay to grants in aid for a forestry scholarship program and they're asking for an increase of two hundred thousand dollars each year year and professional fees due to anticipated increase in new fire suppression contract and a change in the hourly rate. This being charged the executive recommendation is the agency request including title changes for an additional fifteen positions and reclassification of one position. That takes us to paid one ninety this is the forestry rule fire rule community fire protection pages one ninety and one ninety one this is for employing federal funds with state and local matches to assist volunteer fire departments and local communities with fire fighting equipment purchases and upgrades the agency is requesting a transfer of operating expenses thousand seven hundred fifty dollars to the shared services appropriation they're requesting restoration of two hundred thirty seven thousand eight hundred fifty three dollars in grants in aid for the consolidated payment grant and a hundred eighty five thousand and capital outlay this two was from an MF G. for the cooperative lands fire management grant that they received earlier the executive recommendation is the agency request. Next is dove far streets urban forestry services up federal appropriation on pages one ninety two and one ninety three matching grants to put support forestry services in urban areas there are no changes being requested on that and that's executive recommendation as well on page one ninety four and one ninety five is the forestry rule fire protection service loans this appropriate lot ation allows them to provide loans to local fire departments for for purchase of fire fighting equipment funding consist of replacements of rule fire protection loans and they're not asking for any changes in this appropriation. Of and that's executive recommendation as well next on page one ninety six and one ninety seven is the forestry state forestry trust program in this it's for acquisition and management of state forest purchase of fire fighting equipment and other forest fire suppression activities. It is a funding comes from income derived from the management of the state forest and state nurseries and the agency on this is asking for restoration of two million two hundred fifty thousand dollars in capital outlay appropriation and that would also be the that agency requests to provide the restoration of that capital outlay appropriations that takes this two page one ninety eight and it happens that pages one ninety eight through two oh three have no changes in them there's some of the federal forestry programs that takes is over to page two oh four to the plant board to re funds and transfers appropriation. this is used in the case the agency needs to transfers special revenue fee collections to the state treasury after necessary re funds have been made and the university of Arkansas share of their first fertilizer and line ten H. fees. They are asking to decrease this appropriation by two hundred fifty thousand dollars due to an activity in this appropriation of that too is the executive recommendation on page two oh six and two oh seven is the Agra cash operations appropriation they use this war program and marketing activities that promote Arkansas agricultural industry in support Arkansas's involvement in agriculture it's funded through donations are they are requesting to increase forty thousand dollars in operating expenses to enhance support for programs such as their Arkansas ground program they're asking to transfer fifty thousand dollars from operating an eight thousand from promotional line items to shared services and a hundred thousand dollars for buffalo watershed grant which words previously proved with the governor's rainy day fund so they're requesting for that to be reinstated the executive recommendation is the agency's request on this appropriation. On page two oh eight and two oh nine is the industrial help research program this program allows a licensed growers and processors and handlers to conduct research operations in order to assess the agricultural and economic potential of industrial hemp production in Arkansas there's no change being requested in this appropriation and then on page two ten into eleven is the aggro shared services appropriation this is what they had previously in their appropriation before transformation to place so it was replaced by that of regional appropriation that we looked at for the transformation insured services in the beginning of this up request for the agriculture department Mister chairman that concludes the request for the department of agriculture. As a lot. We got a lot of questions first I want to go to Representative Jett. Thank you Mr chairman a Mister I think my question might be for the for the. The Scott this folks but I'm trying to figure out on this edition appropriation twenty thousand dollars going to the scholarships Kathy not bill insert I'm just kind of curious how much money the does the penalties of the state plant board they clicked total you know that figure Kathy of top here at. Give me Sir can you tell me what page that appropriation is looking on page one eighty four where the twenty thousand dollars my understanding the other penalty money was supposed to go to scholarships and and now since die camber and we have a you know we have a we we raised penalties for the state plant board the Sims may the twenty thousand dollars been stagnant with the the penalties going going higher so I'm trying to I'm trying to figure out how much money and penalties were collected total. Seems Mr ward may have heard what you were talking about the maze way in the room if thank you ma'am we want to bring in that. Your sector if you would introduce yourself for the record and Representative Jett has a question. Yes Sir will west for from the Arkansas part of our culture and and and I apologize I did not hear the question. Mister Kerr I'm I'm over here. My my my question is is you know with the enhanced penalties on that can be issued and all that state plant board the money supposed to be flown back to what we told the farmers back home where the money is supposed to go back towards scholarship funds for the universe works on the other three the Universities so seems to me the twenty thousand dollars been stagnant for several years now and the the penalties been going up exponentially some trying to figure of how much money did the state plant board collective penalties for the past year and why are we not raising the scholarships In accordance with the how much money's been raised to penalties. Yes Sir I think that's a that's an excellent excellent question especially since that the enhanced penalty was was approved by the legislature and so I just got a chart in front of me the just on on there's penalties and there's a reflective of two thousand eighteen two thousand nineteen case files I apologize I think those are only a couple two thousand eighteen mostly two thousand nineteen case file sixty nine cases one point eight million dollars and propose penalties but to my knowledge and I know that they're trying to settle some of those and I think there were five or six that they were selling at a much slower rate than what was proposed so just quit map in my head I think that's probably around twenty thousand dollars or so that will be collected and that's just an early number but I I would agree that that those those funds collected from that would go towards that civil penalty so to the extent that that needs to be reflected in the scholarship amount I think that you may be a just a matter of just increasing that appropriation but that would that would be the intent is that that that were working where that money would go Mr why or we're not asking you just increased appropriation what what how can you guys not asking to increase your right now I come back later on for the session and asked increases. A we we would be happy to increase it and that way if there's their space there to you if that full amount collect three even if just a portion of that's collected that that would allow for allow for that to flow very easily to the scholarships of I I would say probably just an oversight on our part I'm not asking for the increase appropriation be reflective of that but we would not object to that anyway thank you Mr chair because I mean at least the parents of of the not trying to operate in fair Yang firm ballots world transparent world so if you racist raised appropriation in it and that reflects the increasing the penalties I would certainly appreciate that Representative Jett I would entertain a motion to raise that to a million dollars so that it would encompass all those funds of and we would be able to send that bill to budget during the session at a million dollars for the price of scholarship appropriation thank you Mr chairman this million dollars we could set the thing. I think Senator would yes Sir from from our and I think a lot of these cases of revenue to be careful here but I suspect a lot of that would probably be be settled as opposed to you know region the for propose penalty amount that's there will be a decision by the board I but I do think the one million dollar. Appropriation would settle it and then we could you adjust accordingly to make sure that that funding is distributed as it's intended okay Lustron only give the parents that we're trying to put penalties on these farmers to to fund a scholarship but also you know if if the penalties are there and are true they're accurate and investigative fairly and we do find that you know I do want scholarships to the in accordance to you know what we. Lowery scratcher we years ago so Mr minute been sitting on like your most of you will put in for motion adjuster motion sensor appreciate that. Your motion do I hear second I have a second all those in favor raise an appropriation to million dollar say aye. All opposed eyes have it that appropriation has been raised to set the session present Jett. Thank you ma'am we have quite a few more questions are you satisfied Representative I am thank you Sir. We'll go to seed eighty nine and I think that is ripped Senator Stubblefield yes thank you Mr chairman. A west me how many Coggins tested state perform this past year. I do not have that number in front of me we've got our our livestock and poultry director sitting outside he he may have it we but I suspect we may have to get back to you on that it also can you get back Jesse's two questions how many amity Coggins tested the performing also have many positive of. Horses tested positive for equine infectious anemia if you can get those two things are IBM's I appreciate yes Sir thank. The sender if you would just get that staff and they'll get it to all the members. Senator Chesterfield you're recognized for a question yes thank you Mr chair and I'm looking at page one ninety the forestry rule community fire protection of. These are we spending them there is an appropriation for one million three hundred to twenty me to twenty seven is that going to be sufficient as well. Chat with a rule community fire. Protection. It's one from looking at the on page one ninety. Yes ma'am just looking at that that that program is is funded through USTA's were were limited on on how much we can do that right yes ma'am it is reflective of. Let me ask you a question on one seventy three because I'm not quite understanding it is saying that the budget exceeds authorized appropriation an extra help and licensing enforcement due to transfers and miscellaneous federal grant holding account in the very ends in the number of positions and authorized in agency request is do the single salary section an appropriation act help me understand that please. Because the see the agencies requesting three thousand two hundred four seven eighty six the exact is recommending two thousand two hundred nineteen five eighteen which is rather unusual in that the agency you are that the executive wreck is exceeding that of the agency Rick and the variance in in in that is supposed to be due to a single salary section help me understand that please. One seventy three. Line one about does my mind manual that I'm looking at a little bit different minds broken out by divisions and and not necessarily in America order I may have to. Voice then got serious. You're recognized a thank you senator it looks like we've added some miscellaneous federal grant appropriation in the time being between when we were putting together this manual and we put the executive recommendation in there so that what that language at the bottom I believe is boilerplate language that we put into place to represent or reflect ale see action to add that additional federal appropriation. Did I say that right Kevin is about as clear as mud J.. So the reason we the age the executive Rick is more than the agency wrecked is because a federal monies that have come in so when we put together the budget manuals and the agencies were telling us back in. would June or July with the request was going to be and then after that point of course the federal government and notify the agency of an award of grant funding which would be effective in FY twenty two so we incorporated that into the executive request and you did the same thing in twenty twenty two twenty three yes ma'am. Okay. Thank you and then finally on one fifty three. I make a broken record on this issue but I'm going to raise it again. Are you under shared services as well as for the hiring or the awarding of contracts to do you do that individually to your department. Secretary. The. Just on a if we find you on the awarding of state contracts is that done through transformation is that done through you. Any Sasaki chief fiscal officer it does come through fiscal. Sure service it comes the shared services so the awarding of contracts. Would not be because of what you do but because of shared services. I'm not sure I understood the question does the department of agriculture I'm looking at the state contracts over fifty thousand awarded to minority owned businesses is absolutely nothing so I'm trying to find out where that where that difference lies it is because of your use of contracts or does the contract A but do those contracts come through transformation insured services. Yes some contracts speed specific to transmission services and also depending on services that we see some of minority vendors will pray not fall in that category. I see in finally of along with parks and tourism you have one of the lowest rates of employment for minorities of any. One of the departments is there a particular reason is it hard to attract people that grass. I but I think I I I can promote my finger on it but particular reason you know we I think we've we've got a good group of minorities that are reflected just even within the leadership of the department and so what we we try very hard to recruit retain promote you regardless of of any discriminatory factors and so we're we're trying very hard to to get those numbers up to a higher level because it is concerning out of four hundred and fifty eight employees only five percent of them minorities so I just wanted to raise that issue and thank you we're in thank you so much for taking my question thank you Mr chair. Think Senator. Absent a Bentley you have a question. Yes chairman thank you thank you secretary war for being here today all right here straight ahead what. It's hard to see if this glass I'm sure Since we've been here we have discussed the weights and measures groups underneath the plant board so is curious on that P. still present their salary this point is competitive in where it needs to be and if you can maybe discuss any Turnover this occurred there what your what your thoughts are at this point secretary appreciate. Yes ma'am and that that was actually something that we were able to incorporate our personnel request that was presented when the discussion of approved presented to the person or committee report and that committee this morning at seven thirty so we we we have seen a really across the department with our field staff whether it's you of plan industry inspector and specialist livestock inspector across the board is very significant difficulties on giving member career progression pass and so what we worked with the miss Kate and personnel and so we we did get approved through our or a request for the personnel was taken there's inspector positions to fill positions and really given them you're making the process were were were asking for more GS or sixes and yes five so it that allows him to move into a higher grade a position and some of their is will be reflective some of those will have some qualifiers on if they've been in the GS four for two years and they can more easily bump up to a GS five were historically in the past there just wasn't a GS five Virginia six position for them to move into so I think we've we've requested about a hundred twenty two I believe is the number of positions that were higher putting into a higher classification that that's all paid through special revenue so we're we're very hopeful and optimistic that that will help to resolve some of the challenges that we see in the past but they would like of standards I appreciate it thank you chairman. Senator hammer you're recognized for a question thank you Mr chair back to the question on the scholarship money in the fines did you would you just tell me again what's the amount that's currently in there with the million dollars that we just of a vote to go through do you see that they'll be in excess that would be accumulated in is it allowed to carry forward. Sir so currently with the twenty thousand dollars that a spirit has split equally five thousand dollars to four universities so what we would what we would do with additional civil penalties going into that we would just divided equally among service for universities that are listed in the appropriation bill I don't see that FOR see there being any issues with that and and we've we've been doing that on a yearly basis with the universities so I don't think there would be any problems with the with a need for for funding to carry over because it would be it would be directly reflective of the civil penalties imposed and collected. Okay where's the feral hogs covered in your budget. So that's the that's that's one that the we're we're still I think is is reflective of our efforts with transformations here services but Currently within the department feral hogs this is covered on several different areas but the appropriation amount itself is covered under natural resources. Okay in. That is or is not part of your budget I'm sorry. It is within the department but it falls under the separate appropriation for financial resources so that's a I don't think this camp is got to that one yet okay all right. And then on the cost of shared services transfer I'm I'm not sure what pager on but I'm looking at page one fifty five It showed. The show's. Two hundred eighty two thousand eight twenty four. And then goes up to five billion eighty nine thousand then projected that it goes up to seven million twelve thousand can you just tell me what all represented in that number please. my look. In our menu on page one fifty five. The Senator hammer. The two hundred eighty two thousand that you're looking at was a. Appropriation transfer. To the sure service under. Under the new pay fund under business area ninety nine no one so to cabinet level depart. Five minutes this is a reflection of what we currently budgeted and fiscal year twenty one. Does that number could like a personnel your rent you know all your other support services or what what is that number constitute so through the number includes in addition to salaries a match. The operating so we have lease. The I. S. network services employee new hire backgrounds marketing communications office supplies. Okay and gasoline purchases okay and then why are you projecting it to go up to over seven million out in two years twenty twenty one twenty two and twenty two twenty three. If you look on page one forty eight that shows the projection twenty twenty to twenty third. For sure services. Alright let me look at Mr chair I want to thank you. Restrictor if you look on page one fifty five. And you follow or part that line item shared services transfer. In the first year it shows to be five million eighty nine thousand dollars. So the five point zero eight nine million. Then it goes up to seven point zero one two million. What what is the reason for that increase and what are we getting for that two million dollar increase. Because we should see a decrease in your general revenue because of shared services and there's actually an increase in your general revenue. Of about two million dollars also so. We it ought to be going the other way would you agree believe you're you're correct Sir and I think those are great questions and mold turn off by these numbers as well I I suspect it may be because we're shifting matters positions into that shared services account so that was about sixty total positions. But I don't know if that equates to the four dollar figure so what you're telling me is we didn't take it out of your appropriation. And we're adding it in two shared services so should we re evaluate those appropriations before we set those for the session. I don't have a good answer for you right now I'll have to I wish I could answer that question better but don't have to get back to you on what it numbers reflective of the way that it is but I thank you you've got an excellent point. Okay so here's here's what I want to do I'm a put my name on this budget I'm hold. If you don't mind if we can get this fixed before the nineteenth of November listen to. On out if we don't then we'll look at it when we get the session. A represented wouldn't hear recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chairman. two three questions of Mr chairman first Is a livestock and poultry and the weights and measures division of the plan is that's work isn't included in and write ministration. Number employees. Your August report or those agencies livestock and poultry the weights and measures division of the plant board to plant board is that in that number at the should be reflective yes server of the department number does include loss on poultry way to measure plant board. All right. If you're showing all the longest report seven the vacant positions. And for. budgeted positions. And then you have seven which is ten percent of the seventy that have been vacant for over two years are you all looking at those positions. We absolutely are yes Sir and and I think we we share of This similar difficulties as other agencies and departments on just filling some of these positions I've I've of every week I get a chart showing or vacant positions and what's being advertised and just hold up all all all the ones in order billion advertise we're we're trying very hard to fill these positions we need these positions filled we do have a few that were that have been sitting there for a little while and that's no five of those positions were unfunded and that's why we had touch there's but we are we're trying very hard to fill the positions that we do have their absolutely needed. The report of god shows several. Pages of vacant positions over there. Is it true that is true so we're so currently and and of the six hundred sixty six authorized positions were five hundred seventy four field we have a personal cap of six hundred and five were advertising about six hundred eighteen your of there's center field and and being advertised I we're actually advertising above water cap is just trying to get us the positions that we need and then what hold before feeling there is but were of the Sixers sixty six authorized positions we we've got about I'd say right at about six hundred twenty that are that are being advertised we're trying to fill right now. Two years to the point that was made before and the provision your budgets being health is a two million dollar increase and shared services which your financial officer in the kid goes back to a person matching in that type thing and salaries. Well in those ninety nine positions total. And natural resources and they're growing group at this point there's ninety nine positions of our budget and the other Phil that's four point five million dollars right there and you're raising your budget two million dollars I mean those those are the kind of things that we feel like you need to be looking at. And I agree to that we we we probably should help some other budget to collect them because of this very same reason. The other the other question I have Mr chairman goes back to this is these control and and a revocation and the last on poetry commission one what does that cover. So the disease control it is very broad so it's it covers everything from And we we do have a lot of certain Boettcher director outside of we need to get into more specifics but any sort of live soccer poultry diseases what that's in these specific what about brucellosis yes Sir. Is that in there. Yes Sir. Yes Sir. What are we doing in that area today is that a is that a continuing problem in the cattle industry it hasn't been that I know that the the state had a brucellosis difficulties several years ago and a lot of work is being done to correct that but your if I need to have our or less on voter director come in answer more specific questions on on our program regarding that would be. Notice that you have about a half million dollar appropriation and I own you lose and using about three hundred thousand of it. If brucellosis is an infection. Right climbing. Looks like to me we need to be spending more that money and they're trying to replicate brucellosis is Louisiana still a problem. No Sir and and I would say that the reason why order number is lower the reason why the of their that appropriation is so high is because that it was a problem so we're still involved we still monitor were still involved brucellosis to work with USDA on that but we don't have the same same problem that Arkansas had back I believe in the eighties early eighties those who have enough inspectors to cover those sale boards and self Arkansas on the rest of the state to keep you from the super it yes Sir with we believe that we do yes Sir. And you still worry with USDA on them absolutely. We your committee go back and look at those nine nine positions and particularly those of there's thirteen or fourteen of them that have been vacant for two years or longer we sure will absolutely fine thank you Mr chairman thank you Representative Terry. Senator hammer you're recognized for a question. Thank you Mr chair I'm looking at your appropriation summary. On the the special revenue has dropped down according to the projection out can you talk about why you've dropped that is for special revenue decline. Senator hammer what will paging referring to up on our page one fifty five department appropriations summary funding sources. Sir are you looking at the special revenue fund balance I am twenty one million to eighteen million yes Sir. I'm just wondering why is it declined. So I don't think it's decline in Sir Welcome to a special revenue fund balance as of July also we have the factory and federal receivables so. What we did prior to the end of fiscal year. The revenue that we're gonna end up collecting scan of the usually in a first second half of that first quarter so if we go by the July figures. We're Messin. Of a million million two and federal receivables. The need to be included in the special and the July one balance. Okay so that's your question No the special revenue fund balances ninety Klein. Okay and then the cash fund. Has gone up from eighty six thousand and you're projecting out that it's going to be four point eight million can you just help me to explain those numbers for the increase on the cash fund line. So the senator you're looking at why we're going from eighty six thousand in actual up to four point eight in budget is. Is is that right I'm just try and are standing for your actual on the cash fund and your funding sources in twenty nineteen and twenty. Your show one eighty six thousand but then. Projected for doubt he goes up to across the board four million eight hundred nineteen thousand can you just help me understand why that number went up so significantly so it is Senator hammer the eighty six thousand as cash that we have and the commercial bank account. And the four point nine million is just a projection of the total cash that we're gonna have and fiscal year and that seven four point eight million is transfer from a commercial bank account to the tree for. Okay and we had a discussion here the other day may not have a relatively to this but where the money is kept now is it with a commercial bankers and over the treasury where is it and. So the money goes in the commercial bank account by the end of each month that money goes back to treasure. Okay. And one other question this is back to the red the red cation. Is that the rich the ready cation fund does that have anything to the feral hogs or is that just strictly for the animal disease control because that's the terminology get used in both settings. Good separate yes Sir so the has nothing to do with that are correct right okay well when you go to look at the Shared services and figure all that out get ready to come back to civic creates any additional funding I know that you know we missed out on a federal grant would like to see if you find any extra money laying around there that it gets directed toward that when you come back we have that discussion thank you thank you Mr. Thank you senator Just to. On that cash fund line item back to what he was asking That eighty six thousand is what you actually had come in in cash funding. Eighty six thousand is what we had in the bank account okay the end of the fiscal year to year and to spending an extra four point almost eight million dollars to come in the next two years each we'll be receipts yes revenue receipt gone to the cash fund from collection fees on the plant Borstein that will go back to treasury so. If you didn't get four point eight million the last fiscal year how how do you. And what big ticket items are coming in that you're anticipating coming that didn't come in before so the reason why you're not shown four point eight million Lasher is because by the end of the fiscal year all that money that was in that bank account. Was moved the treasury and so that that's how this cash or a cash fund operates so you did have closer to four million earlier in the year before this report was generated yes Sir okay thank you Senator Chesterfield you're recognized for a question my word somebody hit it for me okay stumble reviews. Represent wala All I for that we're we're putting that off right. Yeah but I do need to know what are the four institutions that receive the money the scholarship money. The the for these that received the scholarship university of Arkansas Arkansas state A say you and Arkansas tech. To why just those four they the only ones who have an agricultural division or something so we we've seen and we've seen the university of Arkansas do this the the schools that fit under their umbrella is that they will sometimes move that funding to them so we we send them so your time at the university of Arkansas system yes ma'am and the a issue system along with Arkansas check ins and out of that alright thank you so much. Thanks senator. Good to see forty five which is represented Ladyman you're recognized thank you Mr got a couple questions hope we quit but Mister secretary. All couple years ago there was a problem with burning off crops specially northeast Arkansas and I just had a question about and I know that was a cooperative program through your department and I think farm bureau I'm not sure but is there money in this budget. For enforcement in is their money is our income from that and if it's in this budget or is it. There there's not especially on the enforcement side Sir I think the enforcement mechanism for that would fall under kind of air quality with part of energy environment for Marin we we did help put together that voluntary home answer guidelines that was based off of how forestry does there's and so we'd adopted in table that for row crop but we we do have our or forestry dispatch center and Malvern that has the hotline they're accepting calls and walking producers through that but from an enforcement we're and we're doing that without any additional funding appropriation that's just not an additional duty that they've added on we don't have an enforcement mechanism for that and and partly because we we went wanted to encourage producers to you to follow the guidelines without fear that the department of culture was coming after them for for not doing it. So do you see a need for funding for enforcement. Personally Sir a I knew that this is an issue that comes up every year especially this time of year especially around Jones rural as producers are burned all fields and some that smoke makes its way into the urban areas and around the Jones parole I would before I would ever ask for enforcement funding I would I would ask for promotional outreach funding to better educate the Arkansas producers on why it's so important to follow the sponsors of management guidelines it's it's worked very well on the forestry industry but though a bill admit that it took awhile for people to adopt it two people to a wall to understand what they're what the guidelines were while they were needed and what happened if they didn't follow it so I think that's really kind of where we are in Arkansas there there's producers that are hearing some about it they know that there's complaints I think we've just we've got to do. Industry wide not just the part of our culture industry wide has to do a better job of educating promoting the use of those falters moment management guidelines really and I think a testament of that is that. The legislature knows that it's an issue and if we don't address it there very well could be enforcement action or efforts to reduce or stop that practice from producers in the future well I think promotional monies needed because this is an example of trying to do this with the cooperative program so that we don't have to pass legislation to force farmers to do things and and and have cooperation so that they can do it by the method they want to but it has to be enforced and as you said in northeast Arkansas switched in Jonesborough maybe pair will will I get a lot of calls probably other people do this time of year and people don't know that that programs out there on time at the general public they don't know that we're doing anything so I I would like to see some money put forward. To promote that not if this budgets on hold is that right Mister chairman. If there's any way we can get funding put in here I would definitely be for that because the general public at least in northeast Arkansas does not know what's going on and maybe even some of the farmers that are covered by this program. So I would like to promote there is some funding put towards at. The way we work something out there I do have another question Mr chairman you're recognized. on is on page one seventy three. pest control I was just curious it has a line item there for past revocation and a million dollars going out both years but no money was spent is that just like an emergency fund or why was there no money spent on that in the current fiscal year. So there appropriation as a. Is is used in case we have a a past signs a. Pass operate percent upper agency operators were yes okay so we have not had any outbreak and so reason why you're shown zero of spending. Okay thank you for that one more quick question on page one sixty it talks about an additional small amount but a hundred thousand dollars capital outlay on the pull three. Disease and pest control and I think was mentioned that that was added for the growth of that three industry in northeast Arkansas. And I just wondered is that equipment for the processing facility or is that for field operations or. Come equipment we talk about their. So I believe that's that's just our internal laboratory equipment within the departments we have we have the best diagnostic lab that runs the disease and diagnostic process more volume Sir. Thank you thank you Mr. I got a question now Representative Ladyman brings me up to another page but if you look at pest control also on the same line that we were talking about while ago. Your authorized positions for twenty twenty one were ninety. For twenty twenty two to twenty twenty three goes to seventy five your shared services starts in twenty twenty at one point five million it goes up to one point nine million. But you general revenue. Doesn't go down at all it actually goes up two hundred thousand dollars so can you explain in your actual positions were only seventy seven so you really only drop two positions so those two positions are worth one point nine million dollars. Sir so the number of positions bill from ninety to seventy five we do have some positions go from the plant board to sure service we your authorized positions went from ninety to seventy five your actual was it seventy seven. Just one know what we're getting for one point nine million dollars. What what pages looking at one seventy three. So the one point nine million. Also includes in addition to the positions going to for service we have capital outlay. Operating expense but what solutions are you moving to shared services. Fiscal HR. I. T. okay last three majority missin too because we go from actual to. Budgeted you're going from seventy seven to seventy five. Just want to get back to me on this. Yes Sir that be great thank you. Senator hammer you're recognized. Thank you Mr chair. Can you tell me today how much money I have said that the treasury. In what fund Sir well just if you don't have a right now just commit a total I guess or give me a break out how much you have that treasury. By each fund if you would please I know that a while ago and thank you Mr plea for shown that to me that eighty nine thousand was actually a snapshot in time and I think that's what you're trying to say about the end of July when the numbers were you your shirt pull the numbers together my interpretation but I'd like to get up I'd like to get a snapshot of how much all have over the treasury as of the and the September we have four million forty million four hundred ninety eight thousand two hundred forty four dollars. And that's a collective total of everything is broken up by the funds is that correct yes Sir okay. And then the other thing I'd like to request is because it's. Been mentioned on two occasions now about the cost shift over the shared services do you have a summary sheet that would show exactly what you shifted over to share services that would accommodate that would match the numbers that are on our report so we could see what salary what positions went over there with what salaries what H. R. cost what copier cost what rental cost. Bring down on that yes Sir I'd like to get a copy that and on what you want to push that out to everybody else but I the last to at least get a copy of that please. And that's it thank you Mr. Absent a wooden you're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman I will follow the senators questioning. If you have to della calla hello that cash fund you into the. We did in this trip the state treasury where where is it shall. All on your budget. You go to camp it's income we're we're we're is that it how much should you transfer Alice the end of the year. So. Representative you look on page two oh five two oh seven. Representative Ford. Would. So the money that goes into the cache find. The Simmons bank account. The entry that we post an asus it's a liability account which is fund helpful transfer. So standing hit this refund reimbursement account it hits a liability account. On the balance sheets. Then we turn around and was transferred to treasury has forty million that you had at the end. For notice combination several of funds forestry livestock and poultry natural resources all combined. So it's not just specific to this know that but I'm asking is that where that money is when you transferred over there yes the money will go back to treasury yes Sir when it goes to the treasurer is part of that forty million yes Sir okay one more question Mister chairman the you talked about that million dollar emergency fund for a relative to pass emergencies would that include fire in revocation. So there is there is a fire ant advisory board so what I believe that it would be that revocation fund would cover fire ant activities I don't think that there's a separate fund your account that would cover that so I do believe that's correct of then that that was the and And we didn't have to spend any money L. that the control of the fire ants infestation. We haven't I would need to double check under the parents have been an issue but I don't think that that far in devise re board has been active over the last couple years or so but for my my knowledge and understanding and I don't think the department has spent any money on firing at your early so a larger sum of money okay alright thank you Mr. Thank you Representative Wooten with that we have no other questions. So with that I'd read entertain a motion other than the ag operations in the past control budget of four four executive Rick. I have that motion Hey we held in those two out for further questions and we'll pass those out on November nineteenth so with that all those in favor say aye. All opposed ayes have it thank you guys in with that we'll move on to natural resources and we do have audit funding so we'll go to legislative audit first. Please enter dishes of a committee in you're recognized to give the audit report. Good morning I'm Julie Barton Berg I work for legislative audit. We have finding on Fortner Arkansas natural resources commission FOR the fiscal year ended June thirtieth two thousand eighteen. Thanks to the funding is. Testing a vehicle used to log reveal the documentation required but DFA. Was not being recorded by all employees specifically to employees with a sign vehicles did not record time in and time out for their vehicles as required. And this noncompliance occurred after all employees using agent agency vehicles were given additional training due to a prior year funding concerning the same issue. We recommended that the agency and forced the control of their employers to provide insurance the documentation requirements for vehicles usage are complete. Agency replied that. The employees who didn't record the starting and ending time. Incorrectly assume that since they had vehicles currently assigned to them they did need to provide this information. Now. This funding was for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth two thousand eighteen. We have completed the fiscal year nineteen orders the agency and the problem with correct there were no findings in the two thousand nineteen report. Anyone any questions. See no questions on the other report we thank you for giving not and then we'll move on to miss Kathy Smith miss Kathy you're recognized thank you Mr chairman this is a portion of the aggro department the natural resources commission and it begins on page two eighteen in manual for On page two nineteen you'll see the total appropriations for this part of their agency there twenty one appropriations are they are only thirteen with changes and there are a total of fourteen less positions for the agency now. The first one the beaver ratification program on two twenty one into twenty two there are no changes to this on page twenty two twenty three and two twenty four is the damn inventory appropriation and they're only change in this is they're asking for restoration of the ten thousand dollars in capital outlay to replace existing equipment that happens to be the executive recommendation as well on page two twenty five and two twenty six is water waste disposal pollution abatement program this provides the low interest rate loans to communities and their only thing and this is their transferring one position to the department of agriculture state shared services appropriation. That is that large appropriation that we looked at that included the transfers from the aggro department FOR also going to Jersey transfers nail for two that shared services as part of natural resources the executive recommendation provides for the agency request and a title change for one position. On page of two twenty seven and two twenty eight is the natural resources commission's operations appropriation this is funded from general revenue it provides administrative support and on the changes for this they're asking to transfer five positions salary in match to shared services that explains some of that difference in that total number of positions in that large shared services amount transferring operating expenses to shared services and increasing their general revenue funding fifty one thousand nine hundred twenty two dollars each year and that's to restore their category day funding that was of lost earlier in the year the executive recommendation is for the agency requests for appropriation only in title changes for five people. Next is the grants an attorney services this one is the state provides the state share of operating grants for three river and watershed compacts and on this there are no changes being requested that the agency requests and the executive recommendation flood insurance program page two thirty one and two thirty two this is funded entirely by federal revenues granted to the commission and on this one they are requesting to transfer operating expenses to shared services and restoration of capital outlay of twenty five thousand dollars to replace existing equipment including of the heckle the executive recommendation is for the agency request in title changes ward additional two positions. Water sewer and solid waste of the state appropriation is on page two thirty three to thirty four this is funded by general revenue and it is the of appropriation providing for funding for water sewer and solid waste projects that improve of basic infrastructure in Arkansas rule communities there are no changes being requested in this appropriation that the executive recommendation as well. Water quality implementation on page two thirty five and two thirty seven. This is the federal fund matching providing a matching for federal funds is general revenue that provides those matching funds for non point source pollution abatement program as well as the EPA clean likes programming Corbett engineer projects the changes on this appropriation they're asking to transfer to positions salary in match to shared services transfer operating expenses to shared services and increase their general revenue funding three hundred nine thousand five seventy in the first year and three ten five fifty six in the second year again that's to restore their category D. fund of funding that was removed to the executive recommendation is for the agents to request an appropriation only on page two thirty eight and two thirty nine is the rule fire protection program this is a funded from general revenue it provides assistance to rule communities to develop role water impoundments and to improve firefighter fighting capabilities they disperse this entire allotment to the Arkansas association of resource conservation and development council brocaded enrolled in the change in this one is they are requesting on page two thirty nine they're in correct requesting the increase of general revenue funding of fifty thousand dollars to restore the category de funding that was removed and to up then a decrease of fifty thousand each year in grants and date of the executive recommendation provides for the agency request an appropriation only so there's no additional general revenue up provided in that next is conservation district grants there are no changes on page two forty into forty one on page two forty two and two forty three is the natural resources commission cash appropriation they're asking to transfer six positions and salary in match to shared services. Is there asking to transfer operating expenses to shared services. And they're also asking to increase their capital outlay appropriation restore that two hundred twenty five thousand dollars four equipment and replacement of vehicles and the executive recommendation provides for the agency request plus a title change of for one position and again that was taking care of and personnel this morning number page two forty four to forty five is the construction assistance long program this is for the program to monitor improve the progress of projects employing low interest loans from the commission and that are used to provide clean water of this is funded by a federal funds they're asking to transfer one position with salary and matched you shared services and transfer seventy thousand five hundred sixty three dollars and operating expenses to shared services the executive recommendation is for that plus the title change page two forty six to two fifty three they're not gonna be any changes on that so we'll skip over to page two fifty four. Total two fifty four to fifty five is the non point source pollution control program this reflects the federal part of the role in conducting the US environment protection agency section three nineteen grant program to fund non point source pollution management strategies federally funded and they're transferring operating expenses to their shared services appropriation and nag ride there is increasing the professional fees for the watershed plan program which was approved through an MF G. and restoration of two hundred thousand dollars and nutrient reduction appropriation through again to an MF G. that was received by the agency the executive recommendation is the agency request but plus four title changes water use program of this is pages two fifty six and two fifty seven this is a recently completed we recently completed the Arkansas water plan and this is federally funded this they're asking for reallocation of fifty thousand dollars to operating expenses which was approved earlier this year by a LC as a budget classification transferred that was done in peer and they're asking for a hundred and twenty five thousand dollars in water use data reporting that was also part of the federal grant that they received. Conservation technical assistance that's on page two fifty eight to fifty nine they're asking for restoration of forty thousand dollar capital outlay to replace existing equipment the executive recommendation is the agency request feral hog eradication that's on two sixty two sixty one there are no changes in that appropriation being requested that's the executive recommendation as well unpaved roads this is the preparation found on page two sixty two to sixty three this was established to help provide funding FOR unpaved road projects throughout the state using best practice met up best management practices this program was previously located within rule services division of Arkansas economic development commission due to transformation it was moved to this agency the appropriation is a funded by disposable and disposal and transportation fees collected and various other sources of funding the of unpaved roads is requesting fifty thousand dollars each year due to anticipation of additional funding to be able to spend that appropriation the executive recommendation is the roof yeah agency request plus the title change in that as well and the that concludes the request that are being made for natural resources which is also a portion of our part of the overall aggro department now. Presented makes you're recognized for a question. Would you like to have the department at they will. We could the U. secretary west and Director Holland to the table please. Yes would in addition suffer record represented me to recognize yes Sir west for Arkansas barber culture Roussin Arkansas Naturi sources commission division of the department of agriculture. Good morning John I have a two questions if it's okay Mister chairman the the first one I have is on the beaver or education programs it looks like you all are authorized to spend a hundred fifty thousand it looks like you did spend a hundred fifty thousand the question I have is. Are are we monitoring the the beaver population to make sure we're not over harvesting and defer spending before hundred fifty thousand does that mean we still have maybe for for not putting enough resources to this program or any kind of fills in on some. Thank you for the question we more than spend a lot of the conservation districts actually put some of their own money into this program as well we do we budget a quarterly or we pay it quarterly based on the tales that they turn in and now we won't take too many of the also sounds like we we that they maybe something we need to look at investing more and perhaps it would probably the longest conservation districts would actually support that. the the next question I have is on the the damn inventory looks like we have one employee who goes around in inventories the dams in the state do we once we get that inventory are we doing repairs or maintenance on the dams because I didn't see any of that in the budget I don't know maybe put somewhere else or. No them when it one is damn me to certain specification how many feet it is long how much water it to has been handed whether Tyree us to to people downstream those have to be inspected by the state now core dams totally different situation but those dams lot of Amer in little communities and stuff like that will make recommendations to them on what they need to fix we don't we don't fix some we just go out and make sure that they're up to code and they're not failing anyway okay so that I would be up to the local community or the local jurisdiction to make any repairs to that's not the department okay alright thank you. Thank you Representative. I think that senator Johnson City forty one Representative Dotson. Thank you Mr chair My question is on page two sixty one the feral hog eradication program it it's showing you didn't you're asking for three million dollars but you didn't actually spend anything last year and that line item is that because it's being transferred from somewhere else for. And it's also showing that there's no funding. What's the deal with that one yes Sir is there a so that's reflective of an appropriation was increased couple years put in bust answered a couple years ago there was two of the way and that this was referred referencing earlier about feral hog is kind of a across the board from the departments we have this appropriation over here we have coordinator position we have aerial gunning permits livestock and poultry commission rules six who kind of scattered throughout the department so this appropriation itself is this preparation without funding Sir it it can be funded through civil penalties or other mechanisms really not civil penalties if that's something we're probably gonna be asking for next session but penalties imposed to criminal violations fines for transporting frogs illegally so there there hasn't been a funding source to go into that appropriation that partly was created because of the USDA pearls one pilot program where we thought we would that need a place to put that but through committee and other other funds we were able to receive and allocate that funding elsewhere service of this funding is sitting there and I Senator hammer reference earlier you're partly the US the feral swine program we we did receive funding through USDA through that but additional future funding is probably going to be limited on our feral hog efforts so that it's partly why this this part of money this year of not more money there with this appropriation gonna be important moving forward in the future so is your department addressing feral hogs in a different area. Within your budget somewhere else so I believe it's just you and MF G. your five if if I'm getting that correct so when when we receive that funding from USD a to that feral swine pilot program it was just a an MF G. grant from from the federal government from USDM where where did that funding actually go in which which area in your overall. I would probably need. Is this. Senator hammer you're recognized. bottom yes. Unisys akki chief fiscal officer. Yes I'm over here to year right. Question is where if you're dressing feral hog eradication wearing your overall budget is our is the funding located from that MSG that you've got in. In prior years. So the funding would go into the natural resources cash fund. Natural resources cash appropriation FOR twenty. Appropriation FOR twenty percent yes Sir okay. Five to look that up thank you. Represent dot and you get what you need and. Yeah I'm trying to find that preparation so go ahead it's page two forty three. To wit forty three forty three. Okay so you're. Cash funds appropriation three point seven million dollars is that what you spent last year on the. Some of it yes Sir. You know how much you spent on feral hog I think we can get you those figures okay I appreciate that thank you. Senator hammer you're recognized thank you Mr chair picking up that subject on the feral hogs we Mr grant application do you have an idea of what you think it would be that you would need money wise to increase. How much money it how much money you need to for the feral hog. We we don't have an exact number yet but those discussions or or on going and that very much is a cooperative partnership between would would be between the department game and fish USDA while out services so the first there will be multiple entities involved in that a couple years ago when we look for a state wide plan it was about a million dollars and that would cover your higher and personnel inspectors for trappers four for the amount of the state but that was prior to this USDA program so I'm hoping that number would actually be a lot lower now because of the increased number of USDA all of services trappers that are in the state as well as the the grant funding that we receive from USDA for this pilot program but I will say there were were working working on that and trying to figure out what that right path forward is with with the partners. And the money to natural resources the keeper of the money in your working cross agency on this is that a fair statement that's yes Sir this okay so let me ask if we were to hold this. Because you got to come back on the nineteenth anyway you think you could have something worked out. We can do our best to a role I think we can at least get a ballpark I think we can if nothing else we can come up with with the maybe at a a good round figure that we can. Propose amenable E. exact the may still need some additional treating but I think we can come up with a number by then is thank one thing that's important notice this problem's been identified as national problem in the pot of money coming down for the feds is being competed for more so that means we're going to get less even though we got a good ground work laid and everything and if we're going to get a handle on the saying I think it's an area that we're gonna have to look at squeezing money from somebody somewhere to get it in there are I take to get by this time around because that just means they're they're out there multiplied more All right shall not a more as you go back to the Beaver revocation program same thing on that the question was if a hundred fifty is not enough how much do you need for that because I know what they do to crops and trees and farm land and everything else have you anybody got a answers to how much on that one to. And the moneys that the counties get when they retain trappers does that does that come from this new just passes down to the county jurors that coming out of their own funding sources. This Bruce all a naturist worse's commission again Senator hammer of beaver revocation program they that conservation districts or ask for money every year we try to keep our budget is flat as we can we try to make the best use those funds as possible there are some districts in the state that don't use any of the funds and we try to make sure that whoever's utilizing the funds in the most appropriate manner gets the money if we got more we could certainly distributed but I don't know if there's been any study of the effects of where what is enough what's too much I couldn't give you an answer good answer to that question all right. Mister chairman question to the chair please. A just I'd like to hold this one to give them time on the feral hog issue specifically because there was a grant that was missed the issue is that the money would come down from the feds may be I would ask if you hold your idea for second I think there's another member okay I had an issue that goes with that okay in you may want to team up is what I'm getting at that's fine or flag thank you yeah I'll wait thank you Sir thanks and. Swift that a motor Representative all. Thank you Mr chair so I'm gonna direct my question to the chair first and then to the agency if that's okay and I know that through game and fish we already do a program for the feral hogs so my question is if they're not spin in this three million dollars to go to war to eradication of feral hogs why can't we go ahead and move this appropriation or get rid of this procreation give the three million to the game and fish who are using the moneys to ride a Kate feral hogs in our state is that something that could be done or should be done or. I know it can be done but I've got staff's going to give you an answer. yes ma'am we could look at a of funds transferred that could be done during the session where you transfer funds from this agency to game and fish if this will or you could you could move now that we do a fund transfer special language section for that I would point out that they. That appropriation we're looking at they did say they do use this for other programs as well as all the medication yeah but to me it specific it says feral hog eradication and since we have such a large problem and that in the state of Arkansas I feel like the game and fish have more people who could actually use this money towards a radic Kading of feral hogs first is the fact that they probably don't have the number of people that the game and fish do toward helping this issue. Yes ma'am and in the appropriation you're looking at on page two sixty one yes Sir that that is a that is an unfunded appropriation level where that day testified that they were finding that their efforts for that program was on page two forty three and I was under the impression were one to maybe transfer some of those cash funds on two forty three that they were using within this agency to game and fish. Some Mr chair. Yes ma'am and. I'll let the agency speak to that and then we can come up with the motion okay that okay yes ma'am Sir can you speak to that do you have something you'd like to add to this yes Sir and and yes ma'am and appreciate the question that I think thank you for you if you look at for all. And the for our problem in Arkansas it's it's very much of a cooperative effort to we're we're working hand in hand with game and fish that that three million dollar for all accreditation fund and as was mentioned is is just an appropriation there's no funding there the cash funding that was separate so we when we got that USDA grant that MSG grant that that was a collaborative grant request to to USDA to receive that funding so what I do think you kind of go back to the center hammer's comments about what that number needs to be I think it's got to be across the board partnerships with all this engaged and I think Dave officials say the same things like they're they're they're doing they're doing a lot of work without any funding their stretch that and so I think it's just a it's a challenge for all of us but all of us are trying to work together to to resolve it. Thank you for your answer. So I. I would make a motion I would also like to hold this and find out more I'm disappointed that they don't have the numbers or the amount that they've already spent towards this effort and so I won't make a motion yet to to transfer it but I'd like to hold it. Thank you Mr chair. So you want to hold two sixty one page two sixty one which is the feral hog eradication appropriation correct. And their cash appropriation okay. Thank you Mr chair thank you. Senator hammer and we'll come back to you because that was tied in to what you were talking about. Thank you Mr chair I think that'll achieve the goal and objective which would be that before you come back to force on the other matter that we've held on the nineteenth let some conversation happened among the task force in mind the you know with the governor's office in and within years I do want to say just. Not necessarily Johnny to be defended but about two weeks ago I was on a travel buzz on the phone for two and a half hours with task force on this issue there is a spirit of cooperation across all agencies tried to do this I'm not sure though that there would be some wisdom in where the money lands but what I would you know to to make a more. A better clear argument if you would of how the money is being used let me ask you one thing though is there any. Are we going to put are we going to put ourselves in awkward position as far as being able to apply for grants at the federal level by may be moving everything in under. under under the game and fish would that preclude. Any ability to compete for grants because we don't have the appropriation level sit there to draw down. A I think that's a that's a fair question I don't know that that would from USDA perspective I don't know that that would necessarily matter as much as he was taking the lead on your game and fish could could get the appropriation of hoping that would be a deterrent I just entered there's probably going to be limited federal funding coming for feral hog efforts at least until the next farm bill which is probably twenty twenty three so we're a couple years out from that you're going to go back to represent of what's question what you're with the the grant that we received was three point four million Thomas we know that and we know that there or contributions that are tied to that we've got for all coordinator so we're so. Everybody's doing something nobody nobody is not doing anything so I think that it is just a matter of you know who can do the my wrists and how it's situated but I don't think that it would from a funding standpoint receiving additional federal funding would would have an impact A twenty game Fisher want us or however okay in one team I do send out what's been done by the task force all the membership so they would have a clear picture about who's been hired where and traps put out everything to see how that money was used. I'll go along with Representative Baltz reckon Baltz recommendation as chair and thank you. Absent wound you have a question on the subject. This subject another. Area two areas okay represent Ladyman is yours on the feral hog issue okay I will go to represented Ladyman. Thank you Mr chair. I don't know where this is statement I'll try to put in question but at a thought when the represented vote was talking about transferring this to fishing game I'm not really opposed to what patient games doing but they're working in a different arena then the anger I I mean it's a different environment that they're dealing with the force three the trees and that sort of thing and the the actor I community is being negatively affected tremendously by this as well but they have better understanding of what's needed in the fields and so forth so I think it's important that the act right department is involved in this and has some. has input and influence in how the money is even if you're not doing the work you need to have input and I'll use the word power to be able to get things done that agriculture needs is that a fair statement. I absolutely we your all time for miracles producers on the the impact the for auditor happens but I think it's pretty broad spread the the amount of damage that that occurs throughout throughout the state on a broad broad variety of of of of aspects but I do want to mention director home just just mentioned this to me you're part of part of why we took the lead on it was was because the conservation districts and so we do have that funding mechanisms where where we can push that funding to the conservation districts a lot easier to through natural resources and that's part of how this feral hog funding is being implemented so that kind of ties into your point is well conservation district you're working on a broad range of agriculture issues game and fish force three really everybody's been impacted by and it's and it's be above and and that's why that's why the task force was created for all stakeholders to be engaged in an hour address from the state level. Thank you. Thank you Representative represent to. Wooden you're recognized thank you Mr chairman of. Direct your attention to page two thirty nine. Rule fire protection program is authorized a hundred thousand and it's being cut the fifty thousand is their own grants in aid is there a reason why it's being cut now. For rule for reform. So a I will try the best answer that in our our CFO may have to correct me and and rector Holland as well so when you're looking at roll far that's that's another one and has components you and different aspects of the departments are really the majority of our role far work falls under our state Forster Joe fox in the forestry division this was part of a relationship with the R. C. and the it's what I just think that the funding just not there anymore to to to continue at that same level. Was it funded. You send the money's not there anymore how was that phone I believe that was originally funded their USDA Graham at. This is a key chief fiscal officer. So the program is funded with general revenues. Those funds which is funded through general revenues yes Sir. Well what are we cutting. So the reason for the cat is due to the RSA cuts the generator you cut. It was a hundred thousand being use doesn't show any expenditures and. Twenty and nineteen nineteen twenty or twenty and twenty one. Was money being expended L. there. Sir we had a fun the limitation in FY twenty a reason why that numbers zero. Well. The next question on page two sixty three the three hundred thousand dollars for unpaved roads. Who makes the decision hello seven handle on what roads or unpaid that need to be pay. There's application process so I know that our our staff since since it's been here within the department they they work very closely with county judges who were responsible for those county roads and and may have an application process they they do presentations about about the program and have them submit applications there there's actually for your applications and than one might imagine but that's that's the process of how of hell that's hell that's known what roads need to be addressed and then I believe that they are working through the review committee with with the partners of an imminent TNC USDA and others are participating and and looking at there's and selecting which you know what. You know what the qualifications are for road I mean traffic was Farm to market in the what what criteria. Strict Bruce on that resource commission a I heard part of your question asking about the unpaved roads program was specifically what well I was curious as to how selections or money relative to its roads are paved or hello how you qualify or there's a there's a time period each year that we put out a request from county judges for them to apply for these funds there roads are all put in and analyzed and decided which ones best qualify for the program because it has limited funds it's not about paving roads it's about erosion and water quality that's why the EPA puts money into the non point source program. So there's there's there's a road out in the county somewhere say it's long buffalo river for example. Then if it every time the water gets up if it washes a covert out in this road less constant the worst thing we can do in our lakes and streams is pleased with settlement and so we come in and a lot of times it's bigger coverts riffraff that sort of thing so that when the water comes at the next time it doesn't wash all that right into the water it was more of a drainage controlled program it rose and then it is known today exactly it's the name is deceiving we need to change the name of that program because it unpaved roads programmer bases okay you pay road with that now we're we're taking those unpaved roads that are washing away and repairing them with where you make the county judges aware of this once a year yes we we put out we do out reach to those county judges so that they can help understand a program and course every couple years we get some new county judge and we try to do our best to educate everyone. I would encourage you to look at the fire protection funding for rule areas thank you Mr chairman and the five by just very quickly I do want to just point out and we do we do have our state for three years we do have separate so this this funding that alternates resources separate from the work is being done by our forestry division whose is doing quite a bit of work referral farm role fire departments okay. Was aware that I was just concerned about the fact it was reduced thank you Mr sector. Representative Cavenaugh you're recognized for a question thank you Mr chair I'm over here to your right away over here. So can you tell me how much money you're actually transferring to shared services. How Wall receivers come about I will say that's a that's a challenging question in particular for us for from a part of our culture I believe ever departments will be different but we you over the last course the last several years we've added additional programs that we were required to implement without additional funding or personnel in addition to that is trying to a greater I. T. and building your. Really renewal we we but the department cultures been operating like it's nineteen sixty so we do everything paper base were trying to update those systems are trying to go online all of those things cost money and so we're trying to take the the savings ever realizing through shared services and their transformation and and better upgrade to provide the services that the narrow culture injury depends on but as far as the actual dollar amount. Secretary one of the things that you just said it really county gets to what I'm really wanting to know is with the shared services model that we're going to have much savings have you actually seen in your department. So from from a dollar figure you know. I would have to give get back with you on that just to give you are what I don't want to misrepresent the the numbers but we have done quite a bit of work in that ACT five sixty five report that we submitted list listed several there's additional programs that we were doing without additional funding or personnel Sir it's it's a matter of there's a lot of moving pieces but I know that something sector features working on for and that we're working on with them for for the report that's coming up but I don't want to Mr represented number but I'd be happy to to to work on that to provide that thank you. Representative Ladyman you got the last question represented would miss my question thank you. Thank you. So with that of we have no further questions so I would entertain a motion that would Encompass everything except the cast appropriation on page two forty three and a feral hog appropriation on page two sixty one so do I I have that motion to have a second a second all those in favor say aye. All opposed us have it so with that we appreciate you guys being here and we'll move on to the forced registration board mismatch you're recognized. Thank you Mr chairman we have excuse me we have three more of little parts of the Agra department that will deal with the first one being the foresters registration board on page two twelve this is what appropriation it is a cash appropriation of this regulates foresters registered in Arkansas they were they work to protect private forest landowners by licensing and registering foresters who are qualified experienced and who maintain their continuing education they're funded solely from the receipt of application and renewal fees and that the only request that they are changing their appropriation is they're requesting an additional twenty five thousand dollars in extra help and personal services matching of thousand nine hundred thirteen due to an increase in compensation levels and required working hours and they're requesting transfer of seven hundred seventy one dollars in operating expenses their share to go to the shared services FOR agro department this particular appropriation and portion of the agency has to employees they are extra help employees and so that is the agency request as well as the executive recommendation on that appropriation. So I have a motion. Second. All those in favor say aye that's for executive wrecked by the way all those opposed us have it so with that we'll move on to the veterinary medical board yes Sir that one is on page two fifteen of this is the responsible for determining the qualifications of applicants for a license to practice general that nearing medicine are you specialty area of funded by special revenues derived from fees charged to its members they're asking is transferred their portion to the department of agriculture shared services that seven thousand two hundred seventy two dollars and operating expenses and of this appropriation has one position and has three extra help positions and the executive recommendation provides for the agency request including a title change for one position. That's it Mr chairman I have a motion second all those in favor say aye. All opposed ayes have it down pass executive rex will move on to the soul classification board page two what is that two sixty four three to sixty six this is the to regulate the profession of soul classifying cash agency funded through applications registrations a renewal fees it is a thousand two hundred ninety six dollars there no positions there no changes being requested in this and that is the executive recommendation as well. I have a motion for executive wrecked do you have a question from seed eighty nine. Thank you thank you Mr chair Mister does still feel MCS could could you could you give me a. All right to the question but what exactly does the soul classifiers what is the responsibility. I mean do they actually do tests. For testing. Center I'm not really sure about that they don't have any positions and so I would have to refer deferred to add ride to help answer exactly what that means. Secretary of ward will come the table for you senator and answered our questions thank you Mr. Yes Sir west for the Arkansas department of agriculture and and we actually have one of the board members here so I will I will let them answer. View and turn that Michael please Sir. My name is at your mercy ostium one of the board members for the sole classifiers board of lot of our work is in the doing wetland mapping we do and have had some people do work with the. AT Q. with sludge of with fracking material being spread on the on properties arm on lands make sure that that safe the other area is of the our work with septic systems deceptive systems is fine so there's a lot of work with looking at soils knowing what they can handle as for water in and stuff like that so so you don't actually do any kind of work is in regard to Seoul nutrient testing that is correct okay thank you Mr chairman. You're welcome. And Senator hammer I guess you couldn't help it thank you Mr when used talked about you just mentioned septic tanks is it the other state you correctly that is correct there's several large that do septic system designs. So what's your relationship to the department of health because I was thinking there to one city issued a permit and that inspected do all that what what do you do that similar. of the people that are in that that profession have that license have that ability through the health department they are designated representatives just like a plumber would be as as a designated Representative are can be an engineer so classifier is our license can be that to. So they serve as a designated Representative they have to go through additional testing with the health department to be able to do that. Okay part thank you. The sender. Representative Ladyman. Thank you Mr so also are you in I'm over here for you so are you also involved in the construction you know when you're looking at the the classification of the soil for large construction projects as well not necessarily this more of an engineering classifications sorrels where they use those terms ours is more looking at the morphology the sole seeing how it can be used in that manner instead of the you know looking at the strength of the store that is correct thank you. See no further questions you have a motion for executive wrecked. Motion second all those in favor say aye. All opposed by seven C. night we have no further business for today but our calendar for choose day's gonna be seven thirty special language nine AM will be our regular budget hearings. We stand Jr.