Joint Budget Committee
Video
Transcript
9 documents
Bills discussed (31)
| Bill | Title | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SB124
Act 899
· 3 mentions in transcript, agenda
Matched: “…h, we got number 2, the amendment to, uh, Senator Caldwell, Senate Bill 124. Mr. Anderson, give a brief”
|
AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS - DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB124 is now Act 899 |
|
HB1096
Act 786
· 2 mentions in agenda, transcript
Matched: “…ision of Provider Services and Quality Assurance 3. GL#15 – HB1096 - Department of Human Services-Medicaid Tobacco Settlement…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - MEDICAID TOBACCO SETTLEMENT PROGRAM APPROPRIATION FOR … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1096 is now Act 786 |
|
HB1103
Act 334
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “House Bill 1103. This is the Department of Corrections Community Correction…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS - DIVISION OF COMMUNITY CORRECTION APPROPRIATION FOR THE … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1103 is now Act 334 |
|
HB1147
Act 408
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “…rtment of Finance and Administration dispersing officer and House Bill 1147, Secretary of State. Pages 2 through 8 of the pack include…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1147 is now Act 408 |
|
HB1163
Act 1005
· 2 mentions in agenda, transcript
Matched: “…and Staff Only'. 3. Amendment KMW032 by Senator Bryant to HB1163 – Department of Labor and Licensing-Boards and Commission 4…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND LICENSING - BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS APPROPRIATION FOR … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1163 is now Act 1005 |
|
HB1202
Act 1006
· 2 mentions in agenda, transcript
Matched: “…ry and Secondary Education D. Governor’s Letters 1. GL#13 – HB1202 - Department of Finance and Administration-Disbursing Offic…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION - DISBURSING OFFICER APPROPRIATION FOR THE … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1202 is now Act 1006 |
|
HB1546
Act 335
· 2 mentions in transcript
Matched: “Chairman, that takes us all the way to page 16. This is House Bill 1546. This is”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS - DIVISION OF CORRECTION SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1546 is now Act 335 |
|
SB128
Act 533
· 2 mentions in agenda, transcript
Matched: “…econdary Education 7. Amendment HAR055 by Senator Bryant to SB128 – UAMS 8. SB362 by Senator Hammer – Department of Education…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB128 is now Act 533 |
|
SB333
Act 381
· 2 mentions in agenda, transcript
Matched: “…iver C. JBC Consideration of Member Bills and Amendments 1. SB333 by Senator S. Flowers – UAPB-Police Station Facility (engro…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF - POLICE STATION FACILITY CONSTRUCTION … | S. Flowers | Notification that SB333 is now Act 381 |
|
SB362
· 2 mentions in transcript, agenda
Matched: “…is an amendment by Senator Hammer, Department of Education, Senate Bill 362 for $2 million for a youth organization grants and has spec…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION YOUTH … | K. Hammer | Died on House Calendar at Sine Die adjournment. |
|
HB1089
Act 618
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ate Captions F. Bills Re-Referred to Joint Budget Committee HB1089 – Commerce Department – Waterways Commission G. Other Busin…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE - ARKANSAS WATERWAYS COMMISSION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1089 is now Act 618 |
|
HB1092
Act 785
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…of Finance and Administration-Disbursing Officer 2. GL#14 – HB1092 - Department of Human Services-Division of Provider Service…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF PROVIDER SERVICES AND QUALITY … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1092 is now Act 785 |
|
HB1095
Act 539
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…s 6. GL#18 – HB1232 - Department of the Military 7. GL#19 – HB1095 - Department of Commerce-State Bank Department and State Se…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE - STATE BANK DEPARTMENT AND STATE SECURITIES DEPARTMENT … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1095 is now Act 539 |
|
HB1101
Act 787
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…ation 12. GL#24 – SB41 – Office of the Governor 13. GL#25 – HB1101 – Governor’s Mansion Commission E. Consideration of Bills R…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS GOVERNOR'S MANSION COMMISSION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1101 is now Act 787 |
|
HB1102
Act 541
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…nate Bill 92, Department of Transformation Shared Services, House Bill 1102, Treasury of state, state turnback for counties and municip…”
|
AN ACT TO MAKE AN APPROPRIATION FOR STATE TURNBACK FOR COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES BY THE … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1102 is now Act 541 |
|
HB1124
Act 542
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…f Finance and Administration-Regulatory Division 9. GL#21 – HB1124 - Department of Finance and Administration 10. GL#22 – HB11…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1124 is now Act 542 |
|
HB1125
Act 495
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…Bank Department and State Securities Department 8. GL#20 – HB1125 - Department of Finance and Administration-Regulatory Divis…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION - REGULATORY DIVISION APPROPRIATION FOR THE … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1125 is now Act 495 |
|
HB1191
Act 619
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…1124 - Department of Finance and Administration 10. GL#22 – HB1191 - Department of Public Safety 11. GL#23 – SB88 – Department…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1191 is now Act 619 |
|
HB1232
Act 496
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services 6. GL#18 – HB1232 - Department of the Military 7. GL#19 – HB1095 - Department…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF THE MILITARY APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that HB1232 is now Act 496 |
|
SB22
Act 377
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…Inspector General, that would be a due pass as amended. OK, Senate Bill 22 is ready.”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTOR GENERAL APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB22 is now Act 377 |
|
SB33
Act 887
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…y discussion all in favor say aye. Any opposed? Uh Senator, Senate Bill 33 is passed. Uh, we got number 2, the amendment to, uh, Senat…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF MEDICAL SERVICES APPROPRIATION FOR … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB33 is now Act 887 |
|
SB34
Act 888
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…man Services-Medicaid Tobacco Settlement Program 4. GL#16 – SB34 - Department of Human Services-Division of Developmental Di…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SERVICES APPROPRIATION … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB34 is now Act 888 |
|
SB354
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…Department of Labor and Licensing-Boards and Commission 4. SB354 by Senator Dismang and Representative Jean – Department of…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS - DIVISION OF CORRECTION DEVELOPMENT AND ENHANCEMENT CAPITAL … | J. Dismang | Died on the Senate Budget Calendar Having Failed … |
|
SB359
Act 613
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…Jean – Department of Corrections-Division of Correction 5. SB359 by Senator Petty – Department of Education-Division of Elem…”
|
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 |
|
SB36
Act 890
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…-Division of Developmental Disabilities Services 5. GL#17 – SB36 - Department of Human Services-Division of Aging, Adult, an…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF AGING, ADULT, AND BEHAVIORAL … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB36 is now Act 890 |
|
SB360
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…Education-Division of Elementary and Secondary Education 6. SB360 by Senator Petty – Department of Education-Division of Elem…”
|
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. |
|
SB38
Act 378
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…following actions. The subcommittee adopted amendments for Senate Bill 38, Department of Health, licensing and regulation boards, Sen…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH -LICENSING AND REGULATION BOARDS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB38 is now Act 378 |
|
SB41
Act 892
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…tment of Education-Division of Higher Education 12. GL#24 – SB41 – Office of the Governor 13. GL#25 – HB1101 – Governor’s Ma…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR. | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB41 is now Act 892 |
|
SB43
Act 60
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…say aye. Any opposed? Your amendment is adopted. All right, Senate Bill 43 354 Senator to dismaying is in traffic in cabin will not be…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION - ASSESSMENT COORDINATION DIVISION APPROPRIATION FOR … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB43 is now Act 60 |
|
SB88
Act 610
· 1 mention in agenda
Matched: “…0. GL#22 – HB1191 - Department of Public Safety 11. GL#23 – SB88 – Department of Education-Division of Higher Education 12.…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - DIVISION OF HIGHER EDUCATION APPROPRIATION FOR THE … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB88 is now Act 610 |
|
SB92
Act 777
· 1 mention in transcript
Matched: “…38, Department of Health, licensing and regulation boards, Senate Bill 92, Department of Transformation Shared Services, House Bill 1…”
|
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSFORMATION AND SHARED SERVICES APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL … | Joint Budget Committee | Notification that SB92 is now Act 777 |
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joint drudges to order. First item on the agenda is B1 special
language. Representative Johnson, you're recognized to give the special language report. Thank you, Mr.
Representative Lee Johnson
Unverified
0:29
Chairman. The Special Language Committee met on Wednesday, February 26th, upon adjournment to both chambers and reports the following actions. The subcommittee adopted amendments for Senate Bill 38, Department of Health, licensing and regulation boards, Senate Bill 92, Department of Transformation Shared Services, House Bill 1102, Treasury of state, state turnback for counties and municipalities. House Bill 1202,
Department of Finance and Administration dispersing officer and House Bill 1147, Secretary of State. Pages 2 through 8 of the pack include all the attachments adopted by the subcommittee, and I move for adoption of the report. We have a motion to adopt the
report. Do I have a second? I have a second. Any discussion? All in favor
say aye. Any opposed? Report is adopted Mr. Anderson, we have one bill that's ready to come out. Yes, sir, Mr. Chairman, that's, uh,
Speaker 12
1:14
item 5. That's how spelled 1147, Secretary of State, that would be ready for a due pass as
amended if the committee so chooses. HB 1147 is
ready to have a motion and a motion in a second. Any discussion all in favor say aye. Most adopted due pass is amended. All right. Richmond Representative Richmond, you're gonna give the personnel report, you'll, there you go. You're recognized, sir. Thank you, Mr.
Representative Marcus E. Richmond
Unverified
1:43
Chair. The JBC personnel committee met on Thursday, February 27th, and reviewed items 1 through 7
listed in the report. This includes governor's letters 5689, 10, and 11. These governor letters and position changes are all related because the audit and fiscal positions are transferred from DHS commerce, Corrections and Education and sent to the Department of the Inspector General. There are 16 positions in total being transferred to Inspector General. Along with an increase of 2 million in the regular salaries matching and operations appropriation. I'd be happy to take any questions and move adoption of the report at the proper time.
Any questions, seeing no have a motion. Do we have a second? We have a 2nd. Any discussion all in favor say aye. And opposed? The report is adopted. We do have one bill ready, Mr. Mr. Anderson. Thank you Mr. Chairman. That's
Speaker 12
2:36
item F, Senate Bill 22, Department of Inspector General, that would be a due pass as amended. OK, Senate Bill 22 is ready.
Do we have a motion? We have a motion in a second.
Any discussion? All in favor say aye. Any opposed? It's adopted due pass is amended. All right. Next item on the
agenda is report, Mr. Anderson, Department of Human Services. Yes
Speaker 11
2:58
sir, item B3, Department of Human Services Office of the secretary. This is a reporting requirement for the status of
Speaker 12
3:04
efforts regarding reimbursement rates under the living choices assisted living waiver. Any questions on this report? Seeing no
it is reviewed. Next item is we're going to members bill. Senate Bill 333, you want to give a little brief explanation of it, Mr. Anderson. Yes, sir. I
Speaker 12
3:27
C1 in your packet. This is uh appropriation bill by Senator Flowers. This is for cash appropriation, no general revenue of $3 million for construction expenses of a police station facility at UAPB. Senator Flowers,
you wanna. Talk on this bill,
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
3:46
you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chair, uh, UAPB has experienced, difficulty in finding a location to house their uh police department, uh, the.
Previous uh location was in a house, uh, that house has been condemned and now they're forced to have uh Uh, to share space in a dormitory, so I think it's a critical need of the
university and I would ask for uh passage of disappropriation bill. And this is an appropriation only. It's
not coming out of general revenue. The university could pay for this or oh, she could get some money out of the strictly reserve at a, at a, uh, Point in time.
In the future, if, if the governor and the legislative council seemed. Uh, deemed that it was, it's an appropriate, uh, project. That's correct. All
Speaker 32
4:40
right, any questions? We have a motion to
adopt, have a second, a second, any discussion all in favor say aye. Any opposed? Uh Senator, Senate Bill 33 is passed. Uh, we got number 2, the amendment to, uh, Senator Caldwell, Senate Bill 124. Mr. Anderson, give a brief
Speaker 12
5:02
description of that, Mr. Chairman, we're on page 3 in the C packet item C2, an amendment to Senate Bill 124, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, 6.5 million. Senator
Speaker 36
5:17
Caldwell. You got anything you wanna add to it? Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman, committee, uh, this is to give
Senator Ronald Caldwell
Unverified
5:23
funding of $6.5 million annually to the, uh, division of Agriculture, uh, division of Ag, uh, has county extension offices
in in all 75 counties. Uh, they have not had an increase since 2017. Uh, we've given teachers a raise, the governor's bringing forth a bill with, uh, her, uh, uh, pay plan, uh, for the uh executive office, uh, giving pay raises, uh. They've not had increase of, uh, funding, uh, in inflation has gone up considerably since 2017, uh, this uh does support our, uh, research in agriculture and agriculture is our largest, uh,
industry in the state and uh I would appreciate a good vote on it. We do have, uh, uh, members of the division back here to, uh, answer questions if you have any can't
pass it out of here. OK. Yeah. All right, any questions
for Senator Caldwell? Alright. There is no GR in this this time be excess appropriation. Is that correct, Senator?
Beg your pardon, I said there is no GR on this. It would be excess appropriation out of the department at this time, but you said there's maybe
Speaker 36
6:42
something coming from the governor. Is that correct? I need to get uh. I thought I heard you say that. OK. Maybe I was listening to
Senator Ronald Caldwell
Unverified
6:50
too many people, I, I did what I said about the governor, Mr. Chairman, was that Uh, I was comparing to the fact that, uh, this department has not had any, uh, additional funding I misunderstood since 2017 and uh we've given teachers
a pay raise, we've given, uh, the, the governor has a pay plan coming for her executive branch to give pay raises and uh we need this money to be able to give the employees a division of AG of pay rates, but as it stands now paying bills and and increased light bills, increased fuel as it
Speaker 36
7:18
stands now, there's no additional funding they would have to fund this out of their department. I think that's correct. That'd be correct. OK. I
just wanna, I wanna make members correct where we stand on it funding it, OK? All right, we have a motion and we have a 2nd.
We have a 2nd any discussion all in favor say aye. Amendment is adopted, Mr. Anderson. Thank
Speaker 12
7:44
you, Mr. Chairman. We're on item C3 in your packet that's on page 7. This is an amendment to House Bill 1163, Labor and Licensing Board of Commission. It adds $35,000 for the home inspectors board, Senator Bryant. Got it. Coach Chair, you're reckon, well, wait a minute. Let's do this again.
Speaker 52
8:02
I got it. All right, good deal. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, members, uh, 2
years ago, we merged the boards for abstractors, appraisers, and home inspectors,
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
8:10
uh, abstractors and appraisers, if there is a complaint made against the individual, they're able to lodge the complaint with the commission and the commission can go out and inspect uh the complaint. They do not have that authority with the home inspectors because they did not have the correct appropriation in their line items. So this just matches the other two divisions in that commission, so they can spend the money, if they need to. OK? Any questions for the senator? All right, this has no general revenue.
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
8:39
Senator Hill, go ahead. Senator Bryant, uh, looking at this, you know, whenever we merge those together, there's supposed to be a cost savings involved with that. What is our cost savings? Why are we still staying the same when we merge these two boards together, it's supposed to be a savings.
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
8:56
Well, the, the departments here, they can answer for any savings. What it did reduce, uh, All the commissions got broke down into like 3 members on each one to form one commission. Right, I understand that, but I mean, where's our dollars
Speaker 57
9:06
and cents savings, you know, when we merge things together it's
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
9:10
supposed to be a saving. So I'd like to know what our savings is on this. Well,
Speaker 57
9:14
the department is here if they want to come up, they can the department will come forward, why was it not? Department to come forward
Thank you, Mr. Chair. If you two gentlemen identify yourselves and if you heard the question, if not, we'll have Senator Hill restate it. Good morning, Mr. Chair. Steve
Speaker 60
9:40
Gunthorpe, Department of Labor and Licensing. Tyler King agency controller. Did y'all hear the question? We did, yes, um, we do not have those figures for you, uh, Senator Hill. We will get those to you as far as, uh, cost savings for this board, um, The efficiencies for doing this for the investigator, there was no uh appropriated position for an investigator for complaints on home inspectors. These funds are still
Uh, sallowed out, uh, as far as the appraisers, the uh. Uh, abstractors and the home inspectors, so in order to be able to handle complaints for a home inspection. This will allow a third party contractor instead of hiring a full-time employee. Uh, we do not believe that there's justification for a full-time employee to do this position, so we're going to model it after what we do for the, uh, appraisers, which is hire out a third party part-time, uh, investigator.
Thank you, sir. Yes, sir. But I, I would like
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
10:45
those figures as far as. efficiencies of that we will provide those to you today. OK,
Speaker 64
10:48
thank you. Richard, you closed, you like to make a
Speaker 65
10:57
motion? Yes, Mr. Chair. Thank you. wants to adopt the amendment. On the Senate
Bill 1163, you have a second, we have a second. Any discussion, by the way, this is cash funds, no general revenue.
All in favor say aye. Any opposed? Your amendment is adopted. All right, Senate Bill 43 354 Senator to dismaying is in traffic in cabin will not be here, we'll pass over that till next week. Uh, Mr. Anderson, we got, uh, 2 Senate bills.
By Senator Petty. Yes, sir, item C5 is Senate Bill
Speaker 12
11:36
359 by Senator Petty, Department of Education. This is an appropriation payable out of cash funds. This is a grant
program for comprehensive out of school programs for $1.7 million. It has special language, Mr. Chairman that special language. As Chairman, item C6 is the same bill. It's just payable out of a different fund and it also has special language special language. Adam 7. Mr. Chairman, item 7, that's on page 21 in your packet, that's Senate amendment to Senate Bill 128, University of Arkansas Medical Sciences by Senator Bryant. This has personnel changes personnel subcommittee.
C8 in your packet. It's on page 39. This is an amendment by Senator Hammer, Department of Education, Senate Bill 362 for $2 million for a youth organization grants and has special language send a special language.
Members, we're going to the governor's letters and uh. I think the first one Governor's letter 13, the Department of Finance Administration, it does have special language in it we will go ahead and send that to uh special language, and the rest of them with the exception of governor's letter.
15 And Mr. Andrew, correct me if I'm wrong, all these go to personnel, so we're sending Governor's letter 1416, 1718, 1920, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, all to the personnel subcommittee, and we'll step back up and, uh, Governor's letter 15, Mr. Anderson, give a brief explanation of that. Yes, sir. Governor's 15, that's on page
Speaker 12
13:10
11. That's an amendment to House Bill 1096, Department of Human
Services, Medical tobacco settlement program. That amends to appropriation sections to change the responsibility of the division from provider services and quality assurance. 2 aging and adult behavioral services to support operational counseling unit. Any questions on governor's letter 15. We have a motion to adopt the
letter. I have a motion in a second. Any discussion? All in favor say aye.
Any opposed? All right, members, we're going to, uh, the House bill packet. One that has H up in the right hand corner. Mr. Anderson, you're recognized. Mr. Chairman, on page 3. On page 3 in the house packet,
Speaker 11
14:04
House Bill 1103. This is the Department of Corrections Community Correction Division. That bill is ready for a due pass if the committee's ready.
All right, we're at, uh, House Bill 1103. It's ready. Any questions on it? We have a motion to adopt?
And a second, any discussion all in favor say aye. Any opposed, Mr. Anderson. Mr.
Speaker 11
14:51
Chairman, that takes us all the way to page 16. This is House Bill 1546. This is
Speaker 12
14:56
Department of Corrections supplemental. This is for a county jail reimbursement and medical contract. This is not related to prison construction. House Bill 1546 is ready. Any questions?
We have a motion and a 2nd, any discussion? Mr.
Senator Bryan King
Unverified
15:18
King, you're recognized. So this has to do with county jail reimbursement. That's correct. So I'm hearing from counties they're having, they're not getting counties paid in a timely manner. Can we just hold this for the next meeting. I'm just holding it, we voted out the next meeting because I've got several counties that are not getting paid on time. And I've talked to corrections. Can we just
hold this until we figure out, like, have a discussion on it a little
bit like, you like the Department of Corrections come up and address this right now, yeah,
that's gonna carefully. We have, we have them in the room. General, if you identify yourselves, I think you heard the question and respond to Senator King. Chad Brown, Chief
Speaker 81
16:07
Financial Officer Department of Corrections. White Hodge, Chief of Staff, Department of Correction.
Senator, uh, I heard your question and, uh, thank you for allowing me to respond to it and yes, I know, uh, some of the communication that that you've been having with some counties around the state. So the way this works is if this if this doesn't get approved, you know, we don't get the additional funding, the same problem is going to continue to happen. You're gonna continue to get calls from counties saying that we're, we're not paying their invoices. If we get a monthly disbursement of an average of $2 million a month, but we have $4 million worth of commitments out there
that we need to pay. It's just the same cycle over and over. Well,
Senator Bryan King
Unverified
16:49
I understand this, and I understand it goes back to Governor BB. It started under Governor Beebe about like this thing. So this has been going on a while, but what is it gonna take to just make sure these counties are paid within 30 days and we don't have to worry about going over. So there's a few. There's a few issues that come
Speaker 81
17:05
with county jail, uh, and one we've been working with DFA and the governor's office next fiscal year. We should not have this same problem. I think we're going to have adequate funding in order
to do this, but For this fiscal year. There, there's many issues that come into play, for example, in the counties, if there's turnover within the counties and they don't notify our department. We send those invoices to the same emails of the people that left. And so if If we don't get a response in a couple of months from the counties, they call saying, hey, you owe us 2 months' worth of a payment. And then we realized they tell us that person is left, they
give us the new email or the new contact person in that county and we get them paid. Uh, that's one issue, uh. Just not having adequate disbursement each month is another issue, uh, I mean it. Uh,
Speaker 91
17:57
that, that's the best I got for you, yeah, and I get the county
Senator Bryan King
Unverified
18:03
part too. I understand it's, and I'm not attacking you guys. It just seems I don't see you guys' problem. It just seems to be a cash flow problem and sometimes that you're not getting enough allocated when you get enough requests to cover
Speaker 89
18:16
it. Well, that, that's something that that we stay in
Speaker 81
18:20
communication with the DFNA about the governor's office, and we're working through that. So will this
Senator Bryan King
Unverified
18:24
get you enough cash flow to get the cushion to take it where these counties that are getting it in on time are going to get paid within in 30 days. Yes sir, if they send their
Speaker 89
18:33
invoices back to us in an appropriate time manner. OK, I'm
Speaker 96
18:36
fine. That's all I need. Since Irvin, you're recognized. Thank you, Senator King may be
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
18:47
fine, I'm not. This is administrative issue, and you need to have strict administration of how you're going to do
this. the idea that you're sending an email to a, an email address that may or may not be correct. I don't quite understand that. I mean, so why, why isn't there a phone call? I mean, there's 75 county jails, right? 75 county sheriffs. Correct? How many people do you have working in the Department of
Corrections? Agency? We have 2000, yes
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
19:23
understand why. It's that big of an administrative burden and why there's not a seamless administration of the program. In order to prevent any kind of a delay with an invoice or anything like that. This should be a relatively simple fix that we should be able to employ.
Utilizing technology or personnel on a phone, a telephone. To avoid that. I'm getting the same phone calls, so. Do we need to write legislation that like specifically outlines and administrative plan on how we transfer this money. 2, our county jails with deadlines that are need to be met and a clear path of communication. Because if it's just that, if
that's part of what the problem is and you just articulated. That should be an easy fix, and that should be assigned to somebody within your department to be on top of that. And to do their job effectively. So, I want to see. I want to see that. I, I don't I am, I, I'm. I understand there's a a funding we got to fix this, fix it, be done with it. It's not.
It is, it is a waste of our time. When they're calling us saying, hey, we're not getting paid by the government. That we should, we should never ever get a phone call like that, to be quite frank with you. Nobody up here should get that phone call from our county sheriffs. Really, it shouldn't happen. So either we can, uh, this has got to be lead. I'll let you respond. Senator Irvin, let Mr.
Hudson recognize. Good morning, committee. Jim Hudson, Secretary
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
21:25
of DFA agree. Um, I think we've got a, a business process that is not functioning at its best. And it, it is slowing down the cash flow. That actually is a separate issue from the supplemental request if we don't do something all day we're gonna exacerbate the issue. I think you know you've got the commitment from DFA. I, I think the governor's office feels the same way to work with Department of Corrections and figure out what we can do to tune up that business process so we can clear these things quicker they're issuing the invoices they're
billing on a timely basis. It's just once it goes out, it's not coming back confirmed. It's that part of the process we need to get fixed. Because it's a recurring issue and it's just not acceptable.
Speaker 106
22:04
Thank you. Can you give me that plan sometime next
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
22:12
week of exactly how you're going to fix that business, uh, business wise I won't comment in the middle of the session that we'll do something by next week, but we're gonna
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
22:20
be working on it right now. I can tell, you can just get that to me. I, I want
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
22:26
to see that and I'll share it with all the
members. Thank you. And, and remember this is a supplemental, and if we delay it today, we'll be postponing it for at least 2 more weeks,
but time passes here, goes through both chambers. It's got the emergency clause and the governor signs it, so we'll be part of, of extending it out if we, if we did, OK, we've got other members, uh, Senator. Uh, Senator Hammer, you're up. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just out of curiosity today, do you know
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
22:56
what, uh, What the bill is right now as far as how much is owed. We have, let
Speaker 111
23:04
me look. I'll give you the exact number. So we have
Speaker 113
23:21
We have approximately About 4 $4.5 million committed right now that needs to be paid.
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
23:32
OK, and so you get the, you get the method of transfer to shorten the time frame from the time you get the request and that 4.5. Is that, is the appropriation amount you're asking for sufficient enough then with that 4.5 already obligated. Yes, sir. OK. And then just real quick, not wanting to go too deep or too far down a hole, but we get the county jail built, we should theoretically be able to see this amount go down because you'll be transferring those prisoners out quicker, so we should be able to keep an eye on
this and in the future see this number be able to be reduced theoretically. Uh, I would say theoretically
Speaker 55
24:15
yes sir. Practically, how would you say? That's a tough question to answer right now. OK, OK. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Senator. Senator King, we're back
Senator Bryan King
Unverified
24:22
to you. Hold on, hold on, hold on. Now you're live. So since Senator Hill didn't Hill me very well. I did Senator Stubblefield verified that I'm OK with going through this, but, uh, for the question DFNA is, why are you
not cash flow and more money toward them where they can handle the cushion to get this paid. It's not a corrections problem. Why is there not more money flowing to them. To be able to allow them some flexibility in meeting these payments when they have situation come up, they all of a sudden they're billed for 2 months. DFA, sir, is not
Speaker 117
24:52
a cash flowing agency. Well, the budget, the budget sets, let me,
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
24:55
let me answer, answer the question you asked. The budget sets the money that flows. If the need ends up being greater during the year than what the available funding is,
we come back and do a supplemental as we are today. OK, so maybe
Speaker 86
25:09
we just need to start doing more amounts to you. To get more money
Speaker 108
25:17
there. I think, you know, there's gonna be additional money next year. It's in the budget, uh,
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
25:24
We have more money allocating the RSA next year for county jail reimbursement. That's part of it. But the other part of it too is improving this business process to make sure we have good visibility into exactly how
much money we owe the counties. OK. I'm OK
with it. All right. Thank you, Senator. Senator Hill, you're recognized. Thank
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
25:45
you, Mr. Chair. Just, uh, to make it, make it clear in Senator King didn't make it very clear just then that he does not want to hold this, because it will delay us. that's understood because he's the issue. That's what I understood from you. Yes, sir. Thank you,
Speaker 55
25:57
sir. Senator Hammer, we're back to you. Make it brief. I will, I will. The, I just want to make sure you're, you're owing 4.5 right now. Do
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
26:06
you have the money to pay out the 4.5 right now. Is that correct? That's what this
Speaker 116
26:12
is about. The, the point of the supplemental request before you today, and this is going to get you through the
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
26:18
end of this year. Yes, sir. And how much is, what, what's gonna be the total appropriation for the next year. Is that the 195 or how much is it?
Speaker 81
26:26
The total appropriation for next year. Uh, we're getting a $9 million increase, so we're going from 25.7 to 34.8. So 34.8 million will be what
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
26:33
is going to be there for next year
to pay the, pay the county for the prisoners. That's
Speaker 122
26:39
in the governor's proposed budget, yes. So well, what
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
26:42
I'm putting in the back of my mind is when we talk about prison and we separate issue, we talk about the prison, the cost of prison somewhere in the future, we ought to see a reduction in this if we're looking for how to pay for the prison long term. And if I'm going down the wrong trail, now it's time to tell me, but that's what I'm gonna put in the back of my mind, we should see reduction in the appropriation amount that we're giving. and in the governor's letter moving forward if we get the prison built and get We can get it if.
Speaker 104
27:10
All the stars align that's certainly, I think a possibility. A lot of variables go into that and we're not gonna bank on that in terms
Speaker 124
27:20
of how we, how we pay for the prison right, thanks. Senator Hickey, you have a
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
27:23
question? Yes sir, I do. Uh, so historically, give me the last 2 years, I, what we've had in RSA all the supplementals because it's sitting the first time it's come. How much are we spending annually again? On this line item. Uh, last year we spent about $30 million OK, and the year before,
do you know that? I don't know that off the top of my head. I wanna say it's between 26 and 30. OK. And then the new budget that we're gonna have is 34, about, yes, sir. OK, all
right, and just, just one thing other and He what Senator Hammer said, but I wanna make sure we understand whenever we do get the new prison built, of course, we're gonna have additional operating funds there, so I'm not, I'm not looking at that's gonna be a positive in, in any way, shape, or fashion. So I just want to point that out. So thank you.
All right, thank you, Senator. Seeing that's all the questions we have a, do we have a motion for 1546.
We have a motion in a second. Any discussion? All in favor say aye. Any oppose, Mr. Anderson? Thank you,
Speaker 12
28:23
Mr. Chairman. That takes us to page 16 in the house packet, House Bill 1612, Department of Education, AETN. This is a capital improvement. This is not their operations. Camp improvement. Do you have any questions? Do we have a motion on
1612. I have a motion in a second. Any discussion? All in favor say
aye. Any you opposed, Mr. Anderson? Page 17, House
Speaker 12
28:45
Bill 1613, Northwest Technical Institute, Capital Improvement, Northwest Technical. Any questions? Have a motion to
adopt in a second. Any discussion? All in favor say aye. Any opposed, Mr. Anderson? Still on page 17, House Bill
Speaker 12
28:59
1616. Department of Energy and Environment, oil and gas commission capital improvement. Oil and gas commission. Got any questions? Got
a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor say aye. Any opposed, Mr.
Speaker 12
29:13
Anderson? Mr. Chairman, we're on page 17. This is House Bill 1617. This is the Department of Corrections. This is a correction capital improvement. This has not, this is not related to construction
expenses. 1617. Any questions? Have a motion to approve in a second, any discussion, all
in favor say aye. Any oppose? Members will go to the Senate packet. Mr. Chairman,
Speaker 12
29:37
on page 8, Senate Bill 64. Department of Education, AETN,
Educational television, ATN. Have any questions? Have a motion in a second. Any discussion? All in favor say aye. Any opposed, Mr. Anderson? Chairman on
Speaker 51
29:57
page 16, Senate Bill 334. This is Department of Education Capital Improvement. Senate Bill 334. Any questions? We have a motion in
a second. Any discussion? All in favor say aye. Any opposed, Mr. Anderson? Se a bill 335, part of Education
Speaker 12
30:14
School for the Deaf, Capital Improvement. Senate Bill 335.
Any questions? We have a motion and a second any discussion all in favor say aye. Any opposed, Mr. Anderson? Still on 16,
Speaker 12
30:27
Senate Bill 336 Health Department, capital improvement, not their operations 336. Any questions? We have a
motion and a second any discussion? All in favor say aye, then you post, Mr. Anderson. The last one we
Speaker 12
30:40
have on page 16 Senate Bill 337 Capital improvement for building
authority. Any questions? We have a motion in a second. Any discussion?
All in favor say aye. Any, any opposed? It is adopted members. Next Tuesday at 8 o'clock if you're on the personnel committee, uh, this will not, my understanding from the chairs there will be no vote. This will be the pay plan will be delivered to personnel subcommittee, and it'll be for discussion only.
The next day at Wednesday at 8 o'clock in the morning, uh, there'll be another personnel committee in action will, is that Davis, if I've explained that pretty good. Well, there will be action on personnel on Wednesday. Tuesday will only be questioning and discussion on
the pay plan. No action on the pay plan on No action on pay plan Wednesday, but other business. Got you. Thank you for straightening me out.
And then, uh, Special language is scheduled to meet Wednesday afternoon 15 minutes upon adjournment of both chambers. And we will meet back here, uh, joint budget Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m. Seeing nothing else. OK. Senator Hickey. And I've already Never mind. Uh, just with Senator
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
32:12
McKee, I know you just made an announcement about special language. I know that we
probably need to talk with the House chair. I, I feel there's an issue whenever we meet in a joint commit joint committee up on adjournment of both chambers because it may be 2 or 3 hours later, we never know whether the Senate or the House, so I, I've asked them to see if we can reschedule something like that, that even if it's early morning, so that we're not put in that situation. would defer
that y'all visit with Senator McKeegan's Representative Johnson, and get
that worked out. So I, I'll leave that. I'll just say what's
your, uh, uh, website for the the next special language meeting. We'll meet here next Thursday at 9:00 a.m. We are now adjourned. Oh, Hammer, do you want something? Po personal privilege you don't mind. You go right ahead.
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
33:01
Hey, remind members today as pastor's day and if you, your pastor may be standing over the rotunda, they're gonna start at 9:40. I just want to remind you, you might have your pastor over there in the rotunda if y'all step over there and say hi, thanks. Thank you, Senator.
Agenda
A. Call to Order
B. Reports and Communications
C. JBC Consideration of Member Bills and Amendments
D. Governor’s Letters
E. Consideration of Bills Referred to Joint Budget Committee – House and Senate Captions
F. Bills Re-Referred to Joint Budget Committee
G. Other Business
H. Adjournment
Documents
| Title | Type | Pages | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agenda — JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE, Mar 6, 2025 | Agenda | 2 | Official source ↗ |
| B.1 3-6- 2025 JBC SL Rpt · Reports and Communications › JBC Special Language Subcommittee Report dated March 6, 2025 | Exhibit | 8 needs OCR | Official source ↗ |
| B.2 JBC Personnel Report | Exhibit | 27 | Official source ↗ |
| B.3 ALC Assisted Living Report - February 2025 | Exhibit | 1 | Official source ↗ |
| C Member Bills and Amendments3-6-2025 | Exhibit | 41 needs OCR | Official source ↗ |
| GL13 thru GL 25 Mar 6-2025 JBC | Exhibit | 70 needs OCR | Official source ↗ |
| HOUSE CaptionsList | Exhibit | 17 | Official source ↗ |
| JBC Bills Held in Committee | Exhibit | 6 | Official source ↗ |
| SENATE CaptionsList | Exhibit | 17 | Official source ↗ |
Speakers
Representative Lane Jean Chair
Unverified
Representative Lee Johnson
Unverified
Speaker 12
Representative Marcus E. Richmond
Unverified
Speaker 11
Senator Stephanie Flowers
Unverified
Speaker 32
Speaker 36
Senator Ronald Caldwell
Unverified
Speaker 52
Senator Joshua Bryant
Unverified
Senator Ricky Hill
Unverified
Speaker 57
Speaker 60
Speaker 64
Speaker 65
Senator Bryan King
Unverified
Speaker 81
Speaker 91
Speaker 89
Speaker 96
Senator Missy Irvin
Unverified
Speaker 103
Representative John P. Carr
Unverified
Speaker 106
Senator Kim Hammer
Unverified
Speaker 111
Speaker 113
Speaker 55
Speaker 117
Speaker 86
Speaker 108
Speaker 116
Speaker 122
Speaker 104
Speaker 124
Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr
Unverified
Speaker 51