ALC-JBC Budget Hearings

induce her and I will. Please, if y'all would stand and welcome her generously please, and then she will come and present the budget this morning. Gonna gavel in in just a minute. Actually, I'm probably gonna go ahead and gavel in and we'll get our prayer, uh, Senator Hammer is gonna do the prayer, so I'm gonna call this meeting to order. Senator Hammer. Hold. I'm getting there. Your Honor Father, we come before Your throne today. We are indeed grateful and thankful that we have the capacity to be in this room. Father, we ask your blessing upon us as we uh do the people's business. We ask your blessing upon our governor, and we ask your blessing upon her staff. Uh, we thank you Lord for the spirit of cooperation that exists within the three branches of government here in the state of Arkansas, and we asked for that you just bestow your collective wisdom upon us as we debate with regards to the finances. We thank You, Lord, that, that we are blessed the way that we are as a state with the financial strength that we have recognizing that all blessings come from you. We ask your blessing, Lord, upon those that are serving in our armed forces that are granting us the freedom to be able to assemble publicly like this as well as those that are at home defending our freedom here at home as well. We ask your blessing upon them. We pray that you'd bless our nation and its future. We pray for a smooth transition. Father is a new president is brought into power, and we just pray Lord above all that we would realize that everything we say and do, we stand before the greatest of all, and that will be you one day in eternity. So let us be kind in our words. Let us, Lord, just be respectful and let us just, uh, do unto others as we would have them do unto us as your word says, bless the today and bless our governor. We pray in thy name. Amen. If you would please remain standing, the governor has entered the room and we'll welcome her now. Welcome, welcome, Governor. Governor Sanders, you're recognized. Thank you. Good morning. Good morning. We got one. She's an educator, she knows. Co-chairs Rice and Wardlaw. who I know are not here today, but still wanted to recognize them. Senators Gilmore and dismaying Representative Cozart and Jean, President Hester and Speaker Evans, members of our legislature. Thank you for having me here today to present my balanced budget. I want to thank all of the members of my cabinet who are here today and give special thanks to Secretary Jim Hudson, director Robert Brech and Selby McCall. Their help has been invaluable as we have prepared for today. Not too long ago, states around the country were flush with COVID era cash. All this federal spending spurred 50-year high inflation in states like California and New York, officials couldn't seem to spend the money fast enough. And Arkansas got its fair share of new money as well, but unlike our blue state friends, we grew spending cautiously thanks to the discipline of our legislators and leadership. In other states, the bill for their spending is coming due. California and New York are staring down budget deficits ranging into the tens of billions of dollars. Leaders there have proposed sweeping cuts to education, health care, public safety, and more. Amid this belt tightening, Arkansas's physical fiscal discipline stands apart. Earlier this year, we were one of only 6 states to receive the coveted positive rating from the S&P credit rating agency. We've kept up large budget surpluses and at the same time, we've continued our investments and needed priorities while delivering not one, not 2, but 3 tax cuts, lowering Arkansas's top line income tax rate by a full percentage point. This year's balanced budget continues that trend of fiscal responsibility. I look forward to working with our legislature to increase spending by only 2.89%. The added funding is directed toward areas we have all agreed our priorities, education, maternal health, public safety, and government efficiency. As you all know, education freedom accounts go universal next school year. Thanks to our hard work to pass the Learns Act for the first time in state history. We are empowering parents to make the decision about where their child can best learn. Interest in the EFA program is high, and it's not a surprise. As a mom, I know that no two kids learn in the same way. When I first signed the Learns Act, I told the story of Jack, a boy with learning disabilities who struggled with bullies in his local school. He ran away once, twice, and a 3rd time when he was eventually found soaking wet and crying in a ditch. Jack was one of the earliest recipients of an of the EFA program. I had the chance to meet up with him earlier this year in his new school. And it's not just the specialized school addressing his learning needs. He's away from his bullies, making friends, and I'm happy and proud to report that Jack is thriving. There are literally thousands of stories all across Arkansas of kids who are now thriving, who have an opportunity and we'll be able to reach their full potential. And next year, we expect thousands more. To accommodate all those new students this balance, balanced budget proposes $90 million in additional funding for the EFA program plus an additional 90 million and set aside funding to ensure all Arkansas families have access to the full EFA amount even if demand exceeds expectations. Maternal health has also been one of our shared priorities. We are all aware that Arkansas lags the nation in our maternal health statistics, which is why I conveying the strategic committee on maternal Health earlier this year, and why my administration is busy implementing their proposals. This budget includes $13 million for Medicaid to help fund our maternal health programs, and an additional 100 million in set aside funding for Medicaid sustainability. I know all of us want to find real solutions, not headline grabbing programs that don't actually solve the problem. This budget puts money behind that goal. The 3rd key bucket of new funding is for a new state employee pay plan. I announced it alongside many of you last Tuesday, and I spent the next day in Pocahontas, including a meeting with a kind of frontline DHS workers. This plan intends to reward. These men and women spend their days with some of the most vulnerable Arkansans imaginable. Kids entering the foster system because of abuse or neglect, parents who can no longer afford to feed their families. Sick Arkansans who, who couldn't afford the treatments they need without our support. The new pay plan was built to give back to the state employees who give us so much. When I talked to them, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Not only will it help us recruit and retain these much needed workers. It will be key to our larger goal of delivering better, more efficient government for the people of Arkansas. The vast majority of this plan's $102 million commitment comes from existing funding streams, but in this budget, we are also proposing $3.15 million in new funding for pay raises for our state's dedicated frontline workers. You'll find support for our state's other critical needs in this budget. Nearly $50 million for corrections, nearly $6 million for higher education. More than $4 million for the division of Youth Services and $1 million for foster placement. These numbers might seem small in a multibillion dollar budget, but their impact is enormous. I'm sure many of you saw the story this week of Jose, a 17 year old who spent more time in foster care than any other kid in Arkansas's history. Jose has severe disabilities and will need hands-on care for the rest of his life, but that didn't stop. Mary and Patrick from welcoming, welcoming him into their family, his adoption was finalized last week. For the first time since we started keeping track. There are now fewer than 200 kids in Arkansas waiting for adoption. That is a huge accomplishment and one that I know will build on through investments and things like foster placement. Budgets show our priorities and deliver on the promises we all spend years campaigning on education, maternal health, efficient government, public safety, and child well-being. We all ran on improving these systems through this balanced budget, we can deliver on our promises. I want to thank you all again for the opportunity to be here to present this budget and thank you again to Jim, Robert and Selby. I had the job. They spent hours and hours pouring over spreadsheets. And now they get to stay behind and answer your questions. I look forward to working with each of you, getting this balanced budget passed at the end of the day, it's really just a technical correction, so I would appreciate your vote. Together we'll continue our work to make Arkansas the best place in the country to live, to work, and to raise a family. Thank you for your work and I look forward to working with you on this, and in the next legislative session. Thank you very much. Members we're gonna take just a short recess, we'll come back real quick and we'll get Secretary Hudson up and set up and then we'll come back. If I could have everybody's attention, please, you're gonna have to. Signed back in again, we had to shut the system down so all you gotta do is go ahead and sign back in. Your name will come back up or your screen will come back up. We had a little glitch and uh it's all caused on the senator's side of the house, so. Yeah Oh No, yeah, yeah. Anyway, that was. If I could have your attention please, if we could get back to our seats we'll try to get started and uh. Get the lobbyists out of here. All right, we're getting there. If I could have your attention, I have an announcement, uh, talk to Senator Rice last night. He has had some minor surgery on his back done. He is doing well and in recuperation and um he will be back as soon as possible, not sure exactly when, but uh he would love to have been here today, but it's just uh trying to get well as like all of us know that we have something done, you wanna get well before you come back, so he will be back soon, just wanted to send his regards to everybody and let everybody know that he's doing well. All right, Secretary Hudson, you are, if you guys will mic up and recognize yourself, we'll start. Good morning, committee. uh, Jim Hudson, secretary DFA. Uh, Robert Brech Budget Office. All right, y'all recognize. We, uh, you just want questions, is that what you're asking for or you wanna, you wanna make a statement or anything first, yeah, I'm smart enough to know that I can't improve upon what the boss says, so uh I think we'll just be ready to take questions whenever the committee is. Senator English, you recognize. Thank you very much, gentlemen, good morning. So I, I'm looking at this, but you, will you tell me please where adequacy fits into all this? Uh, yes, ma'am. Actually, the, the recommendations that were made would provide for around $262 million over the two years, assuming that that's what's approved. The adequacy fund will grow more than that in the next 2 years. It currently has a balance of $600 million and it will actually grow even with those numbers, uh, so the adequacy uh recommendations would be funded through the adequacy fund. OK, so that's not reflected in here at all. That's correct. OK, thank you. Wooten. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Gentlemen, I I hate to disagree with the, the budget, but I'm sure you understand why. My question is, We have 18,000. Students currently in the Private school voucher program. If that number triples. As it did from last year to this year. From 6000 roughly to 18,000. If that triples in the next 2 biennials. Then we're talking about $402 million. To fund Those 54, 52,000 students. Does the administration still maintain. That the other 400,000 public school students in the state of Arkansas will not suffer. Yes, sir. The, uh, I, I'm sorry, I don't wanna cut you off if you have finished your questions. Go, go ahead, sir. Well, I'll just, I just don't, uh, will you explain how you can take $402 million and I disagree with the governor. We had school choice. Several years ago in Arkansas. They have school choice relative to Attending a public school. And they had school choice if they want their child to go to a private school. And that private school. Is it their will and their decision, and it's true it's going to cost them more money, but they could have sent. Their children to a private school. This is not a critical indictment. Of the children who have Afflictions Who have challenges, who need special educations like Easter seals and sunshine and other schools that outreach. But can you explain to me how we can take over $400 million out of the state funding and it not affect the court order for adequacy and education. Again, the, I think the comment that Robert made the very beginning about adequacy, those are completely different funding streams sir, you, you asked your question, please give me the opportunity to answer your question and then I'll, whatever follow up you may have. But there is, we're not taking any money out of the public school funding. That stands alone. The adequacy fund is more than adequate. To cover the requirements to provide a constitutional, you know, standard of education in our public schools. What we do in terms of the EFAs the Freedom Accounts comes from a different, completely different funding stream and so yes we can do both at the same time, one without harming the other. I understand that, you know, some members may have principal disagreements with Les, but, you know, I think that has been discussed, debated, voted upon. It is the policy of the state. It is the law of the state and our commitment in terms of the budget is to fund what has been passed and that's what the budget does. follow up. You used the word constitutional public schools. Can you tell me in the state constitution where it says private schools. Does it say that? It does not. It does not. And here we are funding. Private schools at the rate of $402 million and Mr. Hudson and I've been where you are, and I understand the position that you have to take, but I'm telling you that's not right. Well, that is not right to take $402 million of tax money and give it to people who can afford To send their students. To a private school. Yes sir, you know, and, and here's, here's my greatest fear. What's going to happen? We're gonna wind up. If we don't watch what we're doing, we're gonna wind up paying more. Per student basis to private schools, then we're giving to public schools because private schools can raise their tuition. I know they have higher test scores because they select every student that attends a private school. Yes, sir. Representative, I have much respect for you and, and I know you've, you've been in my chair in terms of serving and, and executive role, um, I'm not in a difficult place. I'm in a good place here. I, I fully believe in what the governor's doing. Um, I don't have to, you know, um, Push on this issue. This is a decided issue. This is the policy of the state of Arkansas. And again, I will just correct the record. We are not taking any money out of public schools as a matter of fact, the amount that gets funded per pupil in the EFAs is a less percentage, so we're doing both at the same time. And I think we can feel very good about meeting our obligations to all the children in the state of Arkansas and, you know, it is tax money, but it's taxpayers' money and giving to the taxpayers the ability to choose. Reps and boot and I'm gonna have to move on. I, I did delete your mic, but we'll move on. You want to get back in, get back in. We've got a big line of people asking questions. Represent Collins, you'll recognize. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, does this forecast include any one-time money being moved in? You Uh, there are some one time moneys uh put uh and you'll find it at the end of that schedule, $90 million for the Freedom accounts if it's necessary, and then $100 million for Medicaid if it's necessary. It's not known at this time if those will be necessary in the event they are those set asides could be used and then built into the budget afterwards, but what we didn't want to do is put too much money in the RSA when it wasn't needed. So to follow up on that point too, and we, we put it in this handout at the very end just so you could see you know where the money's coming from in terms of safeguarding Medicaid and for funding EFAs. It is not a part of the RSA. Now we have talked a lot during budget hearings about how fund balances and the expectation is, is that agencies need to be looking at ways to bring those balances down either through, you know, you know, better spending or looking at reducing fees so across all the budget, you know, fund balances are getting addressed. So have we identified the, uh, set aside accounts these would come from. They would come from the surplus that's either existing, uh, that's still available $384 million I believe are still left in and unobligated, and then we expect another $278 million this year, so this doesn't use all of those fund balances, but there are more than adequate fund balances to to put aside the 190 million. Thanks. Senator Hill, you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Over here You mentioned that adequacy was not part of the budget as far as the increased, increased portion of it. What else is not included in the budget. I, I would think that would be the main thing that, that people would look for. I mean, typically what would happen in an RSA there might be 65 to $70 million in the RSA for education, but the way their fund balances have grown, it's the same thing that's happened with the state funding, uh, education gets too dedicated pots of money. Come from mainly the sales tax, the educational excellence fund and the adequacy fund adequacy fund is growing and has continued to grow, like I said, it's, it's 600 million now, even if we fund adequacy recommendations out of the adequacy fund, it will still grow another 70 million over the next 2 years. So there's more than adequate funds, so there's no reason not to take it from the adequacy fund. The second part of the question was, is it, what else has been left out of the budget that could count. The only possible thing which we mentioned with Medicaid, where we've put a set aside there, uh, it's not known whether Medicaid will need those funds or not. If it turns out that they do, then we can build it into the RSA in, in future years, yeah, and, and to clarify as well, it's in the budget. The question is, you know, is there any increase for certain line items, but you can go through here and you can see the existing funding that's in place that will be carried forward in the next biennium and in many respects also. with some increases to the base funding based on, you know, increases in salary costs that happened in the previous biennium. OK, thank you. Senator Clark, yes, Tucker. Got it. I'll answer to just about anything, OK, so Clark Tucker. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can you all elaborate on the 50 million for corrections and just break that down for me a little bit. Uh, yes, uh, 40 million of $40 million is for the medical contract, and you'll notice in the uh in the draft that you've got, it shows a reduction in the Department of Correction line right below that is a new line for the medical contract alone. So you'll see a $98 million reduction, but then you'll see $140 million for the medical contract. In addition to that, we've added $9 million for the county jail reimbursement as, as you recall, they did come back and we, we put, we gave them some money. Uh, from restricted reserve to try to catch up with some of their, uh, outstanding invoices, uh, this takes that into account. It's built into the budget now and it should be adequate for them to, uh, pay the counties uh when they're, when those invoices are due. And is that paying at the existing rate or is the rate changing at all? Uh, it's still at the $40 rate. That's right. Thank you. Rips a Bentley. Thank you, Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Hudson for being here today. Um, I appreciate the extra funds that we're giving for maternal health, but we, as we look at, uh, the maternal mortality Review Committee and their report, the number one issue is older women with cardiovascular issues. So are we sure this funding that we've got there will provide the funding we need to increase the amount of money we're paying for prenatal care and for labor and delivery, which has not been increased, I think for over 2 decades. So I think what we're doing with the 13 million is adding resources to Medicaid and to help, you know, just stem a little bit of the burn on that for this initiative, but the intent is to, you know, move forward on all the initiatives, you know, that are coming out that strategic uh recommendation so the government's committed to fulfilling those obligations. Thank you. So hammer, you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, would you expand a little bit on the Medicaid sustainability fund set aside and what, what that entails, please. So it's, it's a, you know, a new approach on it, but actually it's very consistent with how we've handled, I think other obligations uh in state government, you know, we, we do know that there is a deterioration, you know, in the cash position for the Medicaid trust fund. The question is how much and you know what's kind of the the slope of the decline on that. We don't really have good solid information as to where we're gonna end up yet toward the end of the fiscal year going into the next fiscal year so rather than just, you know, putting more money. in the budget, not knowing whether or not we're actually gonna need it. We really want to be a contingency plan, and that's what the reserve is set aside for it'll be there $100 million and then based on what actual results are if DHS needs to plus up their funding, they'll come to the governor, make the request, we'll bring that to y'all, and then you'll have a chance to review it and that will occur before the money gets transferred over. So it is the executive branch and the legislative branch working together to make sure that we're keeping that in a sustainable level. And the second question would be and tell me if I'm interpreting the numbers right when it comes to, um, the surplus where it projecting 280, then 299 and get up into 27, 505. Is that a correct interpretation. If so, what do you attribute the significant growth between 26 and 272 that the surplus projection is as high as it is. So the, the 27 number really is more of a kind of reflection of where that budget is at this point, um, you know, based on what we have in terms of actuals in 2026. I'd fully expect coming into the fiscal session to make some adjustments there and that will probably bring that number down a little bit. It's essentially a flat budget from 26 to 27 and there may be some things like EFAs depending upon the actual utilization that we have to put some money in for also for Arkansas Ford on the pay plan. And the last thing, um, and maybe there are discussions I just flat out missed it, so just educate me any additional funds or anything earmarked within this budget for senior adult centers or what discussions did you have around that or were there any or waiting for us to come to you with something. I'm sorry, Senator Robert and I were sitting here chatting. Can you re-ask the question? I apologize for that. Um, is it, and maybe it's been discussed and I just missed it, but anywhere within the budget, the increases, um, discussions. Regarding senior adult centers and funding for them or any increase in funding or are you waiting for us to come to you with a proposal on that. We don't have anything specifically in the budget on that. OK, all right, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Rip and Ladyman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, thank you all for being here. I'm glad I'm sitting over here and not over there, but, uh, you guys have a tough job, I'll tell you. But uh my question is about human services, that section of the budget. Uh, and we've gone over the details of all these budgets over the past few weeks. I understand that, but Something looks glaring to me when I look at DHS and their breakdown in their line items. Um, Developmental disability services. Is the only item that has no increase. In that budget and I've met with parents of clients in DD and they tell me that over the past 10 years, there's been very little increase in that budget. Uh, and it was up and down. I went back and looked at that data that we had, uh, it has been relatively flat. So my question is, I know that the number of clients that are being served by that particular budget line item is not decreasing. And we have workers within that group. That Always complain about salary and they have some of the toughest jobs out there. So My question is, how are we going to cover, I mean, inflation is going to be 1 or 2%. We've got people that are paid a low salary. Uh, we have a growing population. So how are we covering that? Without increasing the budget. Is that covered somewhere else? It actually, I'd say it is, um, you know, the, the biggest expense is salaries. Um, we have the Arkansas For Pay Plan initiative, uh, DHS is going to be a robust beneficiary of that. And so those salary changes that are that are projected are not necessarily in this line item of the budget. What we're talking about with that for the divisions that need it, you know, we'll have the uh performance fund out there available to them for that first fiscal year and we'll see what the actual need is and they'll be able to draw from that to the extent that they do and they need that into ensuing fiscal years, then I'll be reflected in future RSAs. So in terms of the, the thing that probably means the most and some of the feedback that you're hearing there, um. The pay plan adjustments gonna be a big help there. OK, my next question, uh, Well, um. The uh infrastructure and the facilities in DDS. Uh, you know, we have a 10-year plan, DHS has developed a 10 year plan to upgrade the facilities at the HDCs. That's not funded, uh, completely. It's partially funded. There, there's no money in this budget for that. These facilities are. I just went to the celebration, the 50 year celebration of the HDC in Jonesboro. Uh, those buildings are not gonna last forever. And it takes phase one of that reconstruction has been going on for 2 years. We haven't turned dirt yet. It takes a long time to do that, so we need funding for facilities just like education needs funding. Because these are facilities that are old, they have old air conditioners, cost a lot of money to run. Maintenance is high. Morale is low because of the facilities, uh, is there any money in the budget anywhere to fund that 10 year plan? There, there's no new money in the budget for that. Yeah, I guess I would say why not, but thank you, thank you for your answers. Representative Pilkington, you recognize. Thank you, Chair. Thank you for being here today. Um, just want to go real quick to the, the 13 million for maternal health. I'm sure you could guess that's where I was going, uh, but, uh, one of the recommendations was presumptive eligibility, which I know, um, was presented by the, the task force of the governor and I was just curious of that 13 million is presumptive eligibility for pregnant women if part of that 13 million. I don't think that we've, you're really kind of parsed the $13 million out into specifically it's for this and for this much it's really looking at the initiative as a total but then understanding too that, you know, there are, there's Medicaid assets available to fund all the different parts of the initiatives. OK, yep, that's what I need to know. Thank you, sir. Yes sir. All right, Represent Wotton I'm getting ready to recognize you, but I hope you have a different line of questioning than you did last time, so we can move on. All right, Mr. Chairman, thank you. to lay uncovered one of the areas that I had a very uh concerned about, particularly as it relates to the developmental center in Conway in Jonesboro. My other question is, The Budget Committee approved. Delaying, doing away with 433 positions. That over 2 years old that are in the budget because those positions have been funded phantom employees, if you will for many years. Is there anything in the budget? Or any policy that y'all are coming forward with to address the phantom employee cost that exist because the 2/2 year positions, 433 of them will be denied funding. There's, there's no changes, uh, relative to our previous conversations. I think in the previous meetings that we've had, uh, with leadership and with you as well. We've indicated that we have fulfilled in the executive branch our statutory duty under Act 796 to identify the positions. And then it really is up to the legislature at this point to decide does it want to discontinue those positions from the appropriation or not. That was more of an appropriation conversation, I think, than it is in RSA conversation, but there's nothing in the RSA that changes that dynamic at all. All right, one more question. Co-ops, educational co-ops. Um, had to miss, was gone, the meeting had been scheduled for one o'clock this Tuesday. It happened last Tuesday and I had to be out of the state. My question is, have we funded the positions of 150 literacy court. Coaches in public schools. Have we set those 150 positions up that the governor had in their plan two years ago. And where do we get those employees from? That's gonna be an education question, probably I think I, I don't have the detail on that you to ask. I think, uh, we'll get that for you, rep. uh we'll get that for you, reps. The other question is what is the existence going to be of the co-ops. Are they continue at the funding level that they're currently funded at or has that changed? Again, I refer you to ADD on that. That's another question. Thank you. Reps in my be you recognize. Thank you. I'm way on the other side over here, so I know it's hard to find all of us. Thank you, chair. Um, I'm kind of following up on, on Jack Ladyman's, uh, line of thinking here and, and you made reference to the increase in pay for, uh, state employees, which is great, and, and, and DHS, but there are people who are not necessarily the state employee, um, I, I'm, I'm thinking more along the lines of those who are actually providing the direct care of caregivers of our most vulnerable population, those in, in our nursing homes, those, um, who are, uh, development, who have developmental disabilities and they are still working, many of them, 11 $12 an hour. And without any increase in, um, The budget I don't know if those workers who are providing the care for our most vulnerable population will benefit from The state employees receiving a pay raise. So is there any conversation we can have on how we can help those who truly are providing the direct care for our most vulnerable population. How we can help them get more money in their pockets so that we can have, um, more of them because it's very, very hard to find people who want to do the work because they can make so much more working someplace else. Um, and what can we do to To maintain them as well. I, I probably defer to Secretary Putnam among particulars in terms of the answer, you know, I think that they have a plan for in terms of in the Medicaid world in terms of looking at over time the provider rates, making sure they are where they need to be, um, and then beyond that, I, I do think at least something that we are doing that is significant. I come back to it's for those W-2 employees of the state of Arkansas, uh, the moves that we're making on that and the new pay plan are impressive, they're significant. And the feedback from the staff so far has been tremendous, so we are doing that. But other than that I'd say I'd refer you back to Secretary P, and it would make clear when you're looking at that line in the RSA, that would not be funding the privately paid people, uh, that would be done out of the Medicaid line. It would not be done out of that particular line for developmental disabilities. But I guess it, are there increases there? Is there a plan to, to make sure, whether it's, it's under developmental disability services or another. Maybe it's another area. Is there a plan to try to help. Those workers. Again, I'd say with respect to anything that is funded through Medicaid, anything in the provider area, you know, they are focused on it at DHS. There is a plan to look at all those over time. The particulars as to when these might kind of fall in that cycle. I'd refer you to DHS on that. Representative gene you recognize. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm over here, guys. Uh, I'm asking a question for a representative Charlene Fi. She couldn't be here today, uh, Tom had knee replacement surgery. She's taking care of him, uh, her question was, and I, I think she may have. communicated with the, uh, governor's office, the Morgan Nick Foundation, the $400,000 that is funded through the, uh, DFNA Dispersing Act. Uh, she wanted to know was that going to be continued? I don't, I don't think she ever got a clear answer. You may know, you may not know, but if you'd get Go back and look and look at that, uh, Representative Jean's obviously it's not in the RSA. We'll be, I think probably maybe under miscellaneous funding, but, but that's just a question she texts me and I, I wanted to ask it. Let let's go back and look at that, but you know, we weren't really kind of looking at the HUA stuff or the miscellaneous agency as much as the main part of the RSA for this meeting, but we'll go look at it and let you know. Appreciate it. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. All right, seeing no more questions. Thank you, gentlemen and uh that was easier than you thought, right? It's always a joy to be in front of you. People kind of say it's tough here, you know, I guess I'm sick. I like being around you folks, so. Thank you for letting us be here. December the 26th will be the next AL 20th, I'm sorry, 20th will be the next ALC meeting, uh, I guess we have a break between now and, and then. So, um. Thank you for being here today, ladies and gentlemen, colleagues, um. We are adjourned.