JBC-Special Language
Video
Transcript
3 documents
Bills discussed (12)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SB130
Act 534
· 4 mentions in agenda, transcript
Matched: “…ate Parks and Tourism Divisions (WFP019) - Senator Irvin 3. SB130 - Arkansas State University - Senator Dismang (HAR051) 4. S…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB130 is now Act 534 |
|
SB359
Act 613
· 2 mentions in transcript, agenda
Matched: “…ndment that we will be adopting. Adopting the amendment for SB 359.”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION OUT-OF-SCHOOL … | J. Petty | Notification that SB359 is now Act 613 |
|
SB360
· 2 mentions in agenda, transcript
Matched: “…on of Elementary and Secondary Education - Senator Petty 4. SB360 - Dept. of Education - Division of Elementary and Secondary…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION OUT-OF-SCHOOL … | J. Petty | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB362
· 2 mentions in transcript, agenda
Matched: “…down, uh, and have removed as well as, uh, Senator Hammer's SB 362, I believe, uh, all are dealing with the same, uh, topic, u…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION YOUTH … | K. Hammer | Died on House Calendar at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB106
Act 898
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…mendments referred to the Special Language Subcommittee: 1. SB106 - Department of Agriculture (BSS023) - Senator Irvin 2. SB8…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB106 is now Act 898 |
|
SB201
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ent - Division of Environmental Quality - Senator Payton 2. SB201 - DHS - Division of Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health - Se…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF AGING, ADULT, AND BEHAVIORAL … | J. Payton | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB36
Act 890
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…0 - Arkansas State University - Senator Dismang (HAR051) 4. SB36 - Department of Human Services - Division of Aging, Adult,…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF AGING, ADULT, AND BEHAVIORAL … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB36 is now Act 890 |
|
SB37
Act 608
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…- Division of Higher Education 6. Governor's Letter #32 to SB37 - Department of Commerce 7. Governor's Letter #33 to SB39 -…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB37 is now Act 608 |
|
SB39
Act 609
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…o SB37 - Department of Commerce 7. Governor's Letter #33 to SB39 - Department of Commerce - Division of Workforce Services D…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE - DIVISION OF WORKFORCE SERVICES APPROPRIATION FOR THE … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB39 is now Act 609 |
|
SB8
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…D. Bills referred to the Special Language Subcommittee: 1. SB8 - Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Enviro…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT - DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY SUPPLEMENTAL … | J. Payton | Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
SB81
Act 897
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…106 - Department of Agriculture (BSS023) - Senator Irvin 2. SB81 - Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism - State Parks…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, HERITAGE, AND TOURISM - STATE PARKS AND TOURISM … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB81 is now Act 897 |
|
SB88
Act 610
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…presentative Cavenaugh (LCW048) 5. Governor's Letter #28 to SB88 - Department of Education - Division of Higher Education 6.…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - DIVISION OF HIGHER EDUCATION APPROPRIATION FOR THE … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB88 is now Act 610 |
Machine transcript
May contain errors. Verify important quotations against the official video.
About transcript accuracy
- Source
- Whisper
- Model
- ggml-large-v3-turbo.bin
- Processing date
- October 7, 2026
Unknown speaker
0:00
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Chair sees a quorum will call this a meeting of special language to
order, we don't have any housekeeping items so our special or our first item of business will be Representative Kavanaugh, you're
recognized, which one do I do
Representative Frances Cavenaugh
Unverified
6:33
this one, you're recognized, pages 15
through 20. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, this special language, uh, just sets up a grant, um, inside for the fight, the senior hunger community grant program. It sets up that if If we're able to find the money for this, it would be $400,000 of it would actually go to non-AAA senior citizen centers.
And that's really what the language does to set up the grant
process. Thank you, Representative Kavanaugh. Members, you've heard the amendment. Do you have any questions on
the amendment? Hearing none. Is there anyone here to speak for or against? Hearing none. Is there a motion? We've
got a motion and a second. Any discussion on the motion?
Hearing none, you've heard the motion. All those in favor of the
motion say aye. Aye. Opposed, same sign.
Thank you, members. Congratulations. Amendment is adopted. All right. Next item will be Governor's Letter No. 28. It's on pages 21 and 26. We've got some
representatives from DFA to come up and explain it for us?
Senator Disming, hold on. Why is it doing that? You are
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
8:22
recognized. I'd like to make a motion to withdraw my amendment to SB
130. Members, we have a motion to withdraw SB 130 the amendment discussion all those in favor of the motion say aye oh you
really representative senator Haley you're recognized what was it minutes you're withdrawing
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
9:04
okay this works but there we go uh it was for to arkansas state university when they wanted the ability to uh transfer positions uh without coming before us so we you know did not agree to do that and withdrawing the amendment. Okay, thank you, sir. Members, the ayes
have it. Pass your motion. Do we have a representative from DFA? Higher Ed.
Please recognize yourself and can you
Nick Fuller
Unverified
9:43
explain the letter? Nick Fuller, I'm the Assistant Commissioner for the Division of Higher Education. This request is to adjust our current advertising and marketing budget that we have for scholarship programs. We're trying to expand that to utilize the same amount of funding but to use it for other purposes, for marketing for more of the division, not specific to scholarships. We want to be able to help advertise, like, the common application that was in the Access Act.
We want to be able to use the same funding to advertise a market for that as well, not just the specific scholarship programs. That is
their request. Okay, members, you've heard an explanation. You've got questions. Senator Hill, you're recognized. Mr. Chair, would you
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
10:27
please kind of let me know where we are? There's a couple of us over here that are trying to find where we are on the agenda and stuff. Would you tell us what page we're on?
We are on C5, Governor's Letter No. 28. It should be on page 21. 21. Okay. Thank you, sir.
any questions what is the will of the committee is there a motion motion your second second any discussion hearing none all those in
favor of the motion say I opposed same sign letter is adopted governor's letter number 32 item C6 is on pages 27 through 34 Department
of Commerce anybody here there we go please
come to the table and recognize yourself and explain
Speaker 43
11:41
the letter Morning, Mr. Chairman. Hugh McDonald, Secretary of
Hugh Mcdonald
Unverified
11:48
Commerce. Please explain the letter. Okay, letter number 32 is effectively allows, is requesting Department of Commerce to be able to reallocate resources within the Department of Commerce twice a year, two times a year.
very good members you've heard an explanation you have any questions senator hickey you're recognized
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
12:18
yes thank you uh mr mcdonald currently uh this has to come before alc though is this correct so yeah what does this current language i'm sitting here trying to see because i see it says the chief fiscal officer of state shall then initiate the necessary transfer documents are we are we removing are we removing that aspect so it would have to come before ALC? I'm trying to read through here. Recognize yourself. I see it. I'm sorry. It's
over on page 29. I do believe. Yep. I see it now. So just a little behind here. Thank you. We good. Okay. Any other questions?
Discussion? Is there a motion? Got a motion in a second any discussion hearing none all those in favor of the motion say aye opposed same
sign your letter is adopted we will move to C 7 on pages 32 through
45 letter number 33 the secretary
if you'd recognize yourself yes
Hugh Mcdonald
Unverified
13:28
Hugh McDonnell secretary of commerce this request is to request any sort of remaining funds within ARS and DSB to be carried over to be used for matching funds for the federal grants okay members you've heard an explanation is
there any questions seeing none is there a motion motion and a second any
discussion all those in favor of the motion say aye opposed same sign letters adopted. Thank you. Okay, members, we will move to item D2 on pages 4 through 6. Senator Payton.
Speaker 54
14:30
You recognize yourself and explain your amendment. John Payton, Center District 22.
Senator John Payton
Unverified
14:37
Appreciate it, Mr. Chair and committee. So this is a supplemental funding. They have $10 million worth of appropriation, but they were only funded $5 million in RSA for this home-delivered meals program that you see at your local senior centers. I don't know if you all visited your local senior centers lately, but they are turning away more people than they're serving
because there's not enough money in the program. They get about $14 million from the Fed, and we have $10 million in appropriation, but we only had $5 million in funding. So what this does, it pulls an additional $5 million out of the $384 million cash flow surplus that we currently have for the current fiscal year, and it puts it in the program. It's one-time funding. It won't be going forward unless we increase the funding in RSA. Their funding has been flat for a number of years.
And as you know, inflation has driven the price of groceries up about 30%. And so just to give you a couple of numbers here, they've been providing roughly 3 million meals per year, and this year they're expected to be down to 2.1. So it's been relative. The food costs have gone up by 30%, and the number of meals that they can serve has gone down by 30%. And I know that I know several people personally that are shut-ins, that are elderly, widows and widowers, trying to make it on $700 or $800 a month, Social Security, and living alone.
And these meals are critical. Arkansas is recognized number one in food insecurity. and if you've been to your local senior centers they do a great job have a lot of volunteers that don't get paid anything to help cook and prepare these meals matter of fact the the federal money comes with demands and audits to make sure that no more than 10 percent of the money goes towards administration or overhead and so this being one-time money it's not going to
increase their administration or overhead, we have waiting lists on the home-delivered meals that exceed the number being served. And this amendment also has the language in it that Representative Kavanaugh requested that she just passed in a separate amendment. So it'll work hand-in-hand with that grant program for the senior centers that are not AAA, not part of that AAA thing. So it'll work hand-in-hand. As a matter of fact, it has the exact same language that Representative Kavanaugh had in her amendment.
With that, I'm ready to take questions. Members, you've heard an explanation.
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
17:36
Do you have any questions? Senator Hickey, you are recognized. Yes, sir. Senator Payton, know what you're trying to do, but just from a straight money standpoint. So, as you said, we have the other in RSA. So this is something that, although we act like it's going to be one-time, we know that the need is going to continue to be there. I kind of struggle with taking it out of the reserve allotment or interest, whatever we want to call it,
because that is just supposed to be a one-time funding. And from my standpoint, you know, we've always said that if we're going to do that, that that should be for, like, one-time capital projects. So I personally would like to see this all be an RSA. I do struggle too with the amount because I heard what you said with the 30% food cost. Well, if they've been in $5 million now, 30% of that would add $1.5 more million. And I guess, of course, you said they were serving less.
I don't know how much that would add. I know you said we had a $10 million appropriation, which really means nothing to me. It's what we've funded in the past. Where did we come to the additional five? I mean, was there any type of analysis done by DHS or anyone like that that showed that maybe we only needed $7 million or $7.2 million or something instead of just this round
Senator John Payton
Unverified
18:58
number? Okay. So, first of all, $19 million is the total spend.
So 30% of $19 million would be what it would take to remain flat adjusted for inflation. Fourteen of that comes from the Fed, and five is out of the state general revenue that's been allotted through RSA. So basically, the five does not completely replace the 30% increase in cost. It is a round number that just came off the top of my head. I had been told by people that they needed $7 or $8 million, and I said, well if you've got 10 million worth of appropriation and we funded five five is all you can go for this
fiscal year without more appropriation now y'all are the budget gurus
and not me and so i followed this two months ago and tried to start a conversation and and get
some sort of assurance that we were going to address this it is a current problem in the current fiscal year and the rsa we're fixing to address would be for the next fiscal year this money when it goes into the account i'm told by mr anderson will carry forward to the next fiscal year so even if rsa is is not
brought up to 10 this money will be helping in months several months into the next fiscal year but we're we do have 384 million dollars of cash flow surplus i don't know it's not interest i I mean, it's revenue that we've collected that was not part of the forecast and not part of the spend. It's cash on hand. The way I'm a businessman, the way I run my businesses, that's a cash flow surplus of $384 million, and I'm asking for $5 million of it to be put into this program
that already has the appropriation, and it will go beyond the end of this fiscal year and into the next. So we can take that into consideration with RSA. There's also been a bill filed in the House and a bill filed in the Senate to help address this. And I don't know that either one of those has got legs and started moving or not. But it is a current urgent problem, as food usually is. Everybody likes to eat three times a day or at least once a day.
And, you know, waiting on the next fiscal year and the next budget means that people are being turned away every day in this program. And this $5 million, I assure you, is not enough to not turn anybody away. And it will not raise overhead because those people running the program are already running on a shoestring and they want to put the money into food products and into meals. Just to follow
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
21:45
up, if you don't mind, so the bills that are, the bills have been filed through the committee.
Have they, have the sponsor, are you one of the sponsors, or has anybody attempted
Senator John Payton
Unverified
21:57
to run those? I'm not one of the sponsors. Okay. Senator Wallace has got the Senate bill, and I spoke
to him in the last couple of days, and he said he didn't think he was going to be able to get it done. Okay. I didn't get the details on why. Is the,
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
22:13
I heard you said about the federal funds, on the $5 million, do they also send in a match for that? So if we give this additional $5 million, is there going to be additional money that's coming from the Fed as a match on that, or do you know?
Senator John Payton
Unverified
22:28
Not that I'm aware of. I guess we could probably, if Dana Wells is here, she might can answer that.
Speaker 63
22:39
If you want to call her up. and there might i mean i might get some people dispute
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
22:45
me here but just one thing on that 384 million i mean i know that i know that the intent's about to happen too that we're going to sure up some other some other items that you know be it learns or uh things to that nature that's supposed
to come out of there so and also the medicaid trust fund i know that we're like 250 million dollars supposedly uh spending more than what's going in per year and i know that we're going to try to sure that up just a little bit with that money there also so it's not like that that money is just totally available so i heard
Senator John Payton
Unverified
23:19
you mention that well if i could when i first drafted this it was to pull money from the medical marijuana uh sales tax or tax whatever you want to call it
uh from that fund because it is earmarked for food insecurity and uh but the governor beat me to it and so we've got and i applaud her effort to make sure school children all have breakfast and uh so it's being used properly
but that's originally where this five was was drafted to come from okay and we had to shift all right
Speaker 67
23:50
and he was going to answer the question about jay hill department of
Speaker 69
23:56
human services aging and adult um senator to your question the five million
is is not does not have a federal match senior centers are funded in two streams federal funding through title three primarily and then there is a GR allotment as the senator referenced we have a 10 million appropriation 5 million is funded through state general revenue this would be a this would be an additional state fund so again there is no federal match on that it does contribute to our maintenance of effort requirements towards our federal match requirements but it does not have a match itself okay thanks for the explanation and thank you senator payton
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
24:35
senator hill you're recognized senator payton you made a comment just a while ago that this was was one-time money i distinctly remember that uh we we funded this before so do we need to get this in the in rsa or let's make this permanent what what what's your projection am i thinking correctly about funding this
Senator John Payton
Unverified
24:59
uh through an appropriation a couple years ago well yes so five million has been flat funding in rsa for several years in in the budget as far as funding the appropriation has
been flat at 10 million but it's been it's been funded at five this is an additional five so as looking at it as additional it's a one-time addition unless unless those of you that are involved in the rsa meetings can lobby and make sure that rsa comes out with with more than five million this go around this is one-time money did we
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
25:33
not fund that like i'm going off memory now three million a couple years ago or so extra not i'm aware
Speaker 69
25:41
of that you're aware there was a
restricted reserve allocation made in fy 23. okay from it was it was an amount of three
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
25:49
million so So it's three million. Okay. I was thinking that you ran that, Senator Payton.
Senator John Payton
Unverified
25:54
If I'm mistaken, I'm sorry. Hey, my memory's bad. It's quite possible I did. I just know that my senior centers, three of them that I'm very close to, one in Cleaver County, one in Independence County, and one in Sharp County, they continually have, they serve like 120, 130 meals,
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
26:15
and they have 130 people on the waiting list. Yeah. No, I think this is a good deal. I just want to make sure that you understand
Senator John Payton
Unverified
26:24
that and that I would like to see this continue on for our elderly. I appreciate it. I would definitely encourage those that are
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
26:31
drafting the RSA to include that. Senator Gilmore, are you recognized? Sorry, Mr. Chair, and my questions were asked by Senator Hickey. Thank you. Thank you. Any other questions
from the members? Hearing none, the will of the committee.
Got a motion Sure, I'm sorry amendment has failed. Thank you. We will now move
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
27:15
to D3 on pages seven through nine Senator Petty Members there's a handout. There's an amendment if you
Speaker 83
27:19
would just give staff a couple minutes to get that to you before we
Discuss the amendment. Thank you Thank you Senator Pettit, you're recognized to explain your amendment.
Senator Jim Petty
Unverified
28:05
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, members. This bill, as well as SB 360, which I'm going
to pull down and have removed, as well as Senator Hammer's SB 362, I believe, all are dealing with the same topic. We, Senator Hammer and I, have attempted to get together, but with scheduling and everything, we were unable to do that with the break. This amendment was added because we were and are continuing to intend to combine our request,
but this amendment had begun before or during while we were trying to meet. So this amendment is simply adding, so eventually this 359 or 362 will be combined, and so it would combine with the two numbers that he had originally requested and that I had originally requested. So it's an increase in the amount of the original request
Chair
Unverified
29:05
is all this amendment does. Members, you've heard an explanation. Are there any questions?
Senator Jim Petty
Unverified
29:16
This is the amendment. Just the amendment. That's
correct. But, I'm sorry, go ahead. Are we amending the amendment or is this the amendment? This is the amendment. This is the amendment that
we will be adopting. Adopting the amendment for SB 359. Correct. Are there any questions or discussion? Seeing none, what is the will of the committee? Motion to do pass. Got a motion. Motion to amend.
And a second. Any questions or discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor of the motion say aye. Aye. Opposed, same sign. Congratulations, your motion passes. Your amendment is adopted. Okay. We will now move
to D5. Oh, not presenting SB59. No, that was it. I'm done. Gotcha. We have to, oh, okay. We will.
I thought I was asking the right question. I was not asking the
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
30:27
right question. Okay, you were recognized to present your amendment. Amended bill? Amended
Senator Jim Petty
Unverified
30:33
bill. Okay. I'm confused as well, so. Members, thank you. Again, much like Senator Payton's request, this is dealing with an issue. It's an investment in the youth of our communities and our states. It is around education. It is around providing out-of-school support for the students.
We have a lot of around the state, statewide, we have a lot of organizations that provide these services. What this ask is, is to be included in the RSA evaluation and provide the funding at this certain level to provide these services. And it's in the context of established organizations. It's in the context of those that have measured results.
And that's, in essence, what it is. I'm happy to answer any questions. There's organizations like the Boys and Girls Club that provide this, have been long time established, that have support. They have the outcomes, measurements, and have proven to be good stewards of the funds. And so, out of respect for your time, I'll stop and see if there's any questions and be happy to answer.
Members, you've heard an explanation of the bill. Are there any questions or discussion? Everybody's
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
32:11
lit up. Senator Hickey, you're recognized. Yes, sir. I just want to make sure I understand where this is coming from because it says to be payable from the cash fund deposited in the state treasury as determined by the chief fiscal officer. So what does that mean? Is that coming from the Department of Ed's money, that they've already been appropriated, or is that additional funds?
Senator Jim Petty
Unverified
32:33
So it is open-ended in that regard, but the intention is, as we move through the RSA process, that if there is funding available, that's where it would come from, out of cash, as opposed to existing DESE. but this wouldn't be within RSA
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
32:56
is that correct maybe that's maybe that's why senator dismay has lit up so I'll I'll let send this man assume that's what
you're gonna cover if you don't mind let me ask one more question and then I'll go on over on page two I see that under the criteria to get this it says must be qualified 501 c3 or c4 has been in operation for more than five years and has a record of fiscal accountability. I guess the thing is, so are these 501C3s and C4s,
are they going to be all over the state? It is statewide, yes, sir. Okay. I guess my thing is there, are we sure that we have these organizations that are set up all over the state that have been in existence for five years already or or are we going to are we going to leave some of the some of them out by doing that because i don't know and i could use any anybody but does northeast arkansas do they have a 501c3 that's been doing this that's been in operation for that long and has that because if they don't there's
no way for them to start one up
and to get in it sure good
Senator Jim Petty
Unverified
34:17
question uh and and to clarify so So what our intention was to limit the, all right, here's some funding, let's put together an organization and therefore didn't have the proven, the track record that some of these other organizations. I can't speak specifically if you're talking about northeast Arkansas specific community. I can't speak to any, but I do know that there are, for example, the Boys and Girls Clubs.
They serve 50,000 students or youth across the state. I know, Bryant, you're going to hear from Senator Hammer. They have an organization that's not part of the Boys and Girls Club, but they have been in existence for quite some time as well. that's just my only if
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
34:59
it were to pass you know my only struggle is is is have we
have we got have we have that written so broadly that or so net more than i guess i say narrowly we've got it
written so narrowly that it may exclude some certain portions of the state because of that so that's just just a thought that just come in my head and as far as and the fiscal responsibility or the accountability are we leaving that
up to dfna or department of ed or who's it it is the department of ed yes so
Chair
Unverified
35:32
they're going to establish the grant uh terms and conditions and requirements
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
35:36
so they're going to determine if the 501c3 has been physically that that they have a record of
fiscal accountability that would be part of the grant application all
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
35:55
right all right thank you Senator Petty. Senator Hill, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Senator Petty, looking at this, I want to go back in time here. I want to say community service on page two in career exposure. You know, we're looking at adding money to this. I want to think about a group out of northwest Arkansas that I saw that was actually doing horseback riding lessons
and getting money from the state of Arkansas for horseback riding lessons. That's
not part of education. I don't know anything about that organization and
Senator Jim Petty
Unverified
36:28
what they do unless they're teaching math or science or something on the top of the horseback. I don't know, but no, that would
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
36:35
not be what I would understand as education. Okay, because they were listed as a 501c3 as well, doing it as extracurricular activities, community service, and I want to make sure
Senator Jim Petty
Unverified
36:46
that that does not fall under this. - That would not be my intention, no. - Okay, thank you, sir. - And I don't think in the past, in the similar funding, has that been the case. These are established using, and again, if you go into a little more detail on a few
Chair
Unverified
37:05
of the following pages, talking about what they do what they are doing in that out of
school time okay thank you sir senator disband you recognized
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
37:16
all right thank you yeah so this is an unfunded appropriation you're just requesting an appropriation it's got an outline and it will allow the department if there is funds made available to promulgate rules you know within the constraints of this for a program but it's an unfunded appropriation it is not an RSA it is not funded through a restricted reserve account it's a it's not coming out of general allotment it is an unfunded appropriation yes sir thank you for the clarification okay members any
more questions okay what's the will of the committee there motion motion and a second for do pass for the bill any discussion seeing none all those in favor of the motion
say aye opposed same sign your bill is passed as amended thank you members we will move to D5 on pages 13 through 15 SB 362 also has an
Unknown speaker
38:22
amendment that is being handed out.
Chair
Unverified
38:52
Senator, if you recognize yourself and explain your amendment. Sure. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
39:13
Kim Hammer, State Senator, District 16. The
amendment basically rewrites what the bill is,
but it's for the purpose of bringing clarification to some terminology that was used in
the original bill and to tighten up the definitions. Members, you've heard an explanation of the amendment. Are
there any questions? We've got a motion to adopt and a second. Any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor of the motion say aye. Aye. Opposed, same sign. Your amendment is adopted.
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
39:48
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Please explain your bill. Thank you very much. Explain the bill as amended. First of all, it is
a request for four million dollars for youth organization grants
However, there's some uniquenesses to it that I think you need to be mindful of first of all If you take a look at page one and you can pretty well go over to page Two up to the top of page three What I did was went to the learns act with some advice of a few individuals went to learns act and lifted the exact language of the learns act that defines how to deal with certain issues and so it is replicated after what we've already approved in the learns act as far as what's allowable what is
not allowed allowable when you get over to page three if you take a look at b uh under letter c d and that goes to b to be eligible for a grant authorized by this act a youth organization that is affiliated with the national organization shall submit an official memorandum of understanding between the youth organization and the national organization that acknowledges the youth organization's intent to comply with this act. And the purpose of that is that everything that's required preceding that is what is expected to be complied with.
And there needs to be a memorandum of understanding if there's a national organization that is trying to push down things that maybe the local organization does not align with. So what we're doing is building a firewall between a national organization that may be trying to push down to local organizations that are affiliated with them, those things that would be prohibited in the law as identified on pages one through three. If you skip on down or you continue on down through the bill on page three, a grant on
little letter C, a grant authorized by this act shall be provided to your organization that aligns with the educational goals of the governor and the general assembly. And actually some of this language is borrowed, and he is aware that I borrowed it out of Senator Petty's bill because I think it's good language that kind of identifies that we want youth organizations that are meeting in the after-school setting to align with the educational goals of the state of Arkansas with any of the programs that they may initiate. and so you just flip over to page four flip over to page four here are some
things that I put in the bill that I think will bring some fiscal accountability to those organizations that would be allowed to apply for these grants if you notice 7a to be a qualified 501c3 or 501c4 organization that has been in operation for more than five years and has a record of fiscal accountability. B, a youth organization shall provide a substantial sustainability model demonstrating a minimum of 50% of funding derived from non-state resources. So what that does
is says that an organization that's five years old or older has to prove that they are fiscally accountable, have a record of that, but also this is a 50-50 grant for those that are 50, uh, that are five years old or older. If you take a look at C, if a youth organization has operated for five years or less, the youth organization may provide a financial plan and have a certification of good standing from the Secretary of State to be approved by the Department of Education.
And secondly, the youth organizations holding a charter of five years or less shall be eligible for a matching grant share of 75 percent using the funds appropriated in this act once certification that 25% local investment is made for the program. We have a lot of areas in our state that do not have youth organizations. In fact, if you look at our state and you look at the eastern border of our state and loop around through the southern part of our state, those are pretty much youth organization deserts that are very minimal
as far as providing any kind of structure after school. And so what this bill does is it leans to provide a 50-75 matching grant for those that are five or less so that they can go ahead and get started, but they've got to have some skin in the game, whereas those that are existing for five years or more would be available for 50-50. And this will make the money go further. It will also require that the local clubs, regardless of whoever they're affiliated with, as long as they comply with what's in this bill, will have to invest some or do some to help themselves.
and then the last thing is if you look at the little letter i at the bottom page four it says if at any time it is determined by the department that the youth organization has not followed requirements established by this section the youth organization shall not be eligible for any future grants so we want to put something punitive in there that if they take the money there's going to be some accountability for it as well and then um the rules will be promulgated by the department of uh or the division elementary
and secondary education and so that's the essence
of the entirety of the bill and i'll be glad
to answer any questions members you've heard an explanation senator disband you're recognized for
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
44:59
a question uh just to just so we'll say it uh this is appropriation only it doesn't pull from general allotment reserve is not going to be or included in rsa and it is not currently funded by a restricted
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
45:11
reserve account just like senator Petty says yes while yes sir preparation only thank you
Representative Tracy Steele
Unverified
45:41
representative is that you thank you thank you mr. chairman thank you for allowing me to step in on your committee uh
senator hammer good to see you i like what you're trying to do um could you expound on page three under e says out of school a couple of times could you just expound on what time frames you're i think of some of your testimony you said after school and then out of school. And that's, I'm sorry,
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
46:12
probably out of school would have been a better choice
of words. Out of school being any time that school's not in. And we know that there are programs that are run after school. That's the majority. That's why I said that. But also, there are summer programs that I think that this would also fit. So thanks for bringing that to my attention. It should be out of school. That opens the door for after school and out of school during the summer. Thank you. Thanks for the clarification.
Okay, members, you've heard an explanation any any other questions or discussion is there a motion got a motion in a second any discussion hearing none all those in
favor the motion say aye all opposed congratulations your bill is passed as amended thank you mr. chairman members of the committee okay members these have been released to joint budget committee the amendment to SB 36 the governor's letter number 28 amendment governor's letter number 32 amendment governor's letter number 33 amendment SB 359 as amended SB 362 as amended with no other
Agenda
A. Call to Order.
B. Comments by Co-Chairs.
C. Amendments referred to the Special Language Subcommittee:
D. Bills referred to the Special Language Subcommittee:
E. Other Business.
F. Adjournment.
Documents
| Title | Type | Pages | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agenda — JBC-SPECIAL LANGUAGE, Apr 1, 2025 | Agenda | 1 | Official source ↗ |
| C. Referred Amendments | Exhibit | 46 | Official source ↗ |
| D. Referred Bills | Exhibit | 16 | Official source ↗ |
Speakers
Senator Matt McKee Chair
Unverified
Representative Frances Cavenaugh
Unverified
Senator Jonathan Dismang
Unverified
Speaker 28
Nick Fuller
Unverified
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
Speaker 43
Hugh Mcdonald
Unverified
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
Speaker 54
Senator John Payton
Unverified
Speaker 63
Speaker 67
Speaker 69
Senator Ben Gilmore
Unverified
Speaker 83
Senator Jim Petty
Unverified
Chair
Unverified
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
Representative Tracy Steele
Unverified