ALC - PEER

AI recap

Transcript

Make your seat. We're going to start the meeting. I call the peer subcommittee of Council to the order. Billy, are you ready? Thank you, Mr. Chair. We're in the first section. This is Section B. These are various temporary appropriation requests. The first item, B1, is a letter from the Department of Public Safety, Division of Arkansas State Police. This is for 230,000 in appropriation. It's to replace the gate at their headquarters and supported by state asset forfeitures. The next item, the last item, is a letter from DHS Division of Developmental Disabilities. This is for 5 million in appropriation. This is to expand the scope of quality improvement activities at the Southeast Arkansas Human Development Center. This, again, is to meet the level of the four other human development centers. It's supported by rural T's, timber proceeds, respite payments, and capital improvement funds. Mr. Chair, those are the two VTA requests. All right, members, are there any questions on B1? B2? If not, I'll entertain a motion to approve B1 and 2. I have a motion in a second. All those in favor say aye. Opposed nay. Motion passes. Billy. Thank you, Mr. Chair. We're in section C. These are American Rescue Plan Act Appropriation Request. The first item is a direct federal award from a federal department to a state agency. The second and third items are state awards from the potha funds that were made available to the state, and the executive has discretion in directing funding. The federal deadline for our pothons to be expended is the end of this calendar year. DFA has identified three million of funds that would not be expended by the deadline, and are requesting to reallocate them to these two projects that could utilize the additional support. Also, we receive additional documents from DFA this morning to accompany the requests, and those documents are next to the peer packet. So the first one, C1, is the Department of Agriculture. It's for 179,000 in ARPA appropriation. It's to ensure implementation and expansion of farm to school initiatives in child nutrition programs through the school garden project. Next item begins the state awards. This is C2, DHS Division of Medical Services. It's for 900,000 in spiny authority. This is the cover substance used to sort of treatment and recovery services by adding to a grant already made to the Euler School of Social Work to develop a crisis system. And the last one is from the Department of Agriculture. No appropriations requested. However, there is a report that 2.1 million of funds had been redirected for water-based water stormwater and irrigation projects. Mr. Chair, those are the ARPA requests. All right, members, any questions on C1? C2, C3. Seeing none, do I have a motion to approve these items? We have a motion to approve C1, C2, and C3. All in favor say aye. And a pose, motion passes. Thank you, Mr. Chair, we're in Section D. This is Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Propression Request. There's only one. This is from the Department of Energy and Environment, Division of Environmental Quality. This is 177,000 in appropriation. They have a grant from the EPA to analog samples for the Water Quality Management Planning Program. All right, members, any question on this item? C9, I have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion on the motion? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Opposed nay, motion has passed. Thank you, Mr. Chair. We're in Section E. This begins the items for review section of the agenda. E is a appropriation or fund transfer request. This is a letter from the Department of Health Minority Health Commission. It's a $15,000 transfer from operating expenses to promotional items. The letter explains that legislation changes the commitment, I'm sorry, legislation charges the commission with performing broad outreach. The transfer will allow them to purchase the NSA health-related promotional items. Any questions on this item? Seeing none, was that objection? This item is reviewed. Thank you, Mr. Chair. We're in Section F. These are cash fund appropriation requests. The first request is a letter for the Department of Labor and Licensing Real Estate Commission. It's for hundreds in 1,000 in appropriation and to establish a capital of LA law and item. This is to pay for a new HVAC system. It's supported by license fees. Next item is F2. This is a letter from the Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. It's for 100,000 in appropriation. It's for the alternative certification program, which will expand the Arkansas Professional Educator Pathway Program. Staff learned that this is specialized training for teachers of record that offer an alternative path to teaching certification. Candidates must have a bachelor's degree and a teaching position to be eligible. The staff also learned that this is being supported by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation. Any questions on F1? F2. Seeing none, without objection, these items are reviewed. Thank you, Mr. Chair. We're in Section G. These are budget classification transfer requests. The first one is from the Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management. It's a $10,000 transfer from operating expenses to capital outlay. It's to pay for hazardous materials, supplies, and equipment. Number two is the Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management, an $18,000 transfer from operating expenses to capital outlay. It's to purchase a vehicle. And number three is the Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. It's a $70,000 transfer. It's from operating expenses to professional fees. It's to pay for audit services that will be provided by the Department of Inspector General. Any questions on G1? G2? G3. Seeing none, without objection, these items are reviewed. Thank you, Mr. Chair. We're in Section H. These are Miss Lane's Federal Grant Appropriation Request. The first one is from Parks Heritage and Tourism. It's for $16,400 to spend federal dollars. They have a grant from the Department of Interior for a Cultural Resource Survey and Acquisition of 46 Acres at the Cost Start River. Next item is a Gain Heritage and Tourism. This is for $400,000 in preparation. They have a grant from the Department of Interior to make a sub-award to the Game of Fish Commission and the City of North of Iraq to construct a fish-weighting facility and other infrastructure under I-30. Number 3. Again, Parks, $720,000 is a request. They have another grant from the Department of Interior to make another sub-award to Game of Fish. This is to acquire 460 Acres that Kelsal Arkansas to improve the trust and hold-in wildlife management area. Number 4 is Parks, $256,000. This is a grant from the Department of Interior to increase capacity through a work plan to address hiring, grant applications, stewardship, and education and outreach. All with the aim to advance outdoor recreation. Number 5. Parks, $2.8 million. This is a grant from the Department of Interior to improve Mountain Ebo State Park by constructing a new campground, bathhouse, road, utilities, and more. Number 6. This is a Department of Labor and Licensing, appraisers, abstractors, and home inspectors board. It's for $90,000 in spinning authority. They have a grant from the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council to carry out the State Appraiser Regulatory Agency Support Program. Mr. Chair, those are the MFGs. Thank you, Bill. Any questions on H1? H2? H3? H4? H5? Senator Irvin, you're recognized. I just have a question on the acquisition projects. I guess it would be 1 and 3. Real quick. Thank you. If you identify yourselves and tell us who you're with, you'll be recognized to answer the questions. Good afternoon, Catherine Andrews, Office of Outdoor Recreation, Parks Heritage and Tourism. Marty Raul, Director of Legislative Affairs, Parks Heritage and Tourism. Thank you. So question, I guess, for both, really, would be 1 is, how do we identify, how did you identify these specific lands to acquire? How does that come about? And I see that these are federal dollars that are worth spending. But then how much state revenue will there be to upkeep those properties? I guess I have two questions. One is, how did these come about? And then two, we're using federal dollars to purchase. What's the state going to be required to maintain? So every year, Department of the Interior gives LWCF Land and Water Conservation Funds to every state. This is our apportionment from Department of the Interior and National Park Service. Office of Outdoor Recreation receives those funds, and then we give those to sub-recipients. And Arkansas, there are three of those. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, State Parks, and the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission. So each three of those agencies is responsible for their match to the federal dollars, and it's 50-50. And we choose them and help organize them by an intake process. So we ask every year, each three of those agencies to come forward with their projects. And they come to the table to us with the most shovel ready projects, the ones that have the highest chance of getting completed within the timeframe for the National Park Service. There's a checklist of items that we look for, and then those we move forward to obligation with the National Park Service. Okay. So, Cossetot River, this 40-46 acres for Cossetot River acquisition, is that adjoining to a State Park or a National Park or Wildlife Management Area, or... That is adjoining to a current WMA. Okay, so that's Game and Fish. Yes. Okay. And then same with the 460 acres at Kelso, the Wargo acquisition. Oh, yep, that's Game and Fish. So both of these are Game and Fish. Additions to current WMAs. Okay. And is there any specific reason why they chose those two? Or other types of places around the State. Oh, we can check on that. I can get you the exact details. Okay. But I do know that it has a lot to do with, especially these acquisition projects, speed to market. So, willing sellers ready to add on to current existing WMAs. That's a high priority for National Park Service and the Land of Water Conservation Fund dollars. Okay. So there's quite a few reasons for those, and I can get those to you. Yeah. If you don't mind, I'd kind of like to know that. I know we have a lot to say our blessings over. And so when we're adding more lands, I worry about that just simply because of reduction in taxes, property taxes to the local entities and things like that. So if you could just get some more detailed information from specifically them to me, that would be great. Thank you. Okay. Representative Layton, you recognize for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm over here. Just kind of add on to what Senator Urban was asking. I'm interested in how these projects are chosen. What's the criteria who chooses them? You mentioned three different agencies. You've got a local judge or mayor or both that wants to land to be bought and utilized for a fishing game lake or whatever. How they go about requesting this money. They usually approach the agencies themselves. So if you look at the second item, game and fish, I 30 fishing weigh-in facility. The city of Northland, Iraq is working with game and fish for that project. So they would just approach the agencies. Hey, we got this idea. We'd like to do this. Correct. Are there funds available and how do I apply for those? Correct. That's the process. There's this program, the Land of Water Conservation Program, which is a federal. And then in Arkansas, we are incredibly lucky because we're one of the very few states that also has a state outdoor recreation grant program. And so that is also another avenue for them to go through. So when do these funds become available? What's the cycle? Is it annual? So have all the funds been used this year? We are hoping to obligate those within the next couple of weeks. And then every year we get about 3.8 million to use for new projects. Thank you. Representative Bart, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm right here and you have probably have to look at me to hear me. We're at on the call to tell River that this WMA is at that you're going to be getting the land from. I will have to get you the exact location. The acquisition is about 46 acres. I'll get you the exact location. Okay, I had to appreciate that because the tide goes from one end to the other in my district. So I just want to know where that land's coming from. I'll let you know. Thank you. Any other questions? Seeing none. Without objection. These items will stand reviewed. Billy. Thank you, Mr. Chair. We're in a section I. These are, this is a paid plan appropriation request. It's from the Department of Labor and Licensing. It's 30,000. It's an extra help in match. It's to maximize working hours for extra help according to the request. Any questions on this item? Seeing none. Without objection. This item stands reviewed. Moving on to reports. Billy. Thank you, Mr. Chair. We're in reports. The first one is the surplus income and distribution report. It shows the source of unoppogated income distributions from the district reserve fund as well as the balance of the catastrophic reserve fund. It also has a wastewater sewer treatment facilities grant program fund. Page two shows the amounts allocated to each of the district reserve fund's set aside along with the distributions and remaining balance. The current balance of the fund is 1.796 billion. The next report is J2, the budget stabilization trust fund report. It shows cash flow loans throughout the fiscal year. As of the end of last month, there are 24.3 million outstanding loans and the cash balance is 218.99 million. The next report is tobacco settlement. This gives a summary of income fund balances investments actual payments to the state and on the second page raw expenses by fiscal year. The next report is the state's central services fund report and it shows the fund balance and disbursements as well as the expenditures of each agency supported by the fund. J5 is the education adequacy fund. This has the quarterly public school fund balance. That second page shows the quarterly public school fund balance and at the end of the first quarter, the total balance of both restricted and unrestricted funds is 913 million. Below the quarterly balance is the schedule that shows the end of the year balance for the fund going back to 2020. The last page shows the educational adequacy fund at the end of last month. At the top, it shows the fund balances from 20 to 27. The second table shows the monthly transactions. The fund had a balance of 515 million at the beginning of last month. 64.9 million was deposited into the fund that month. The word no transfers, this leaves a balance of 579 million at the end of September. And this amount will build throughout the year unless the department recertifies the need to draw more funding. J6 is the Medicaid Trust Fund report. It summarizes the current fund balance in past five years of fund balances of the Medicaid Program Trust Fund. With the five year history of the balances by month, the column shown the source of income and on the last page is the Medicaid Trust Fund distribution for last month. For the month of September, 52.64 million has been distributed from the fund for private nursing home care and hospital medical services. And 250 million was deposited in the fund. That includes a 200 million transfer from reserve that was approved by LC at the last meeting. That leaves the balance at 283.4 million. And then the last report is the Infrastructure and Investment and Jobs Act report. And it shows all IJA awards as they need agencies as of the end of last month. Let's share those rather reports. Thank you, Billy. Senator Dotson, who's your question for? This is in relation to J2 and it may be one that requires a little bit of research. But regarding the outstanding balance for Henderson State University of a little over $4 million. I don't know if anybody is even from Henderson State here or ASU systems. Please identify yourself for the record and you're recognized. Jim Hatson, Secretary DFA. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My question is on this. If I recall, is this still the part of the same loan balance that was like $6 million. And it was supposed to be repaid back over a number of years. But that was like half a dozen years ago, wasn't it? We've restructured that a couple of times. And I think it's important to remember when the obligation was incurred. Henderson was not a part of the ASU system. ASU stepped in and kind of almost into receiverships for the fashion and is operating the institution now from a system basis. And they've made progress on that. I don't have current information. I can get that in terms of what the remaining amputation period looks like. But I think they're compliant. I think they're making payments. They're making payments on it. Because I know at one point they were trying to pay ahead and get it paid off. But then it doesn't look like it's reduced very much. That's when the amputation period is. Staff has told me that the amputation period runs through December of 2030. So we still got. But we're closer and we are being three more years. All right. Thank you. 4.49 is the balance on it. Ladies and gentlemen, who's your question for? Department of Energy and Environment is here. Don't see anyone. Wait a second. Here we go. If you'll identify yourself for the record who you're with, you'll be recognized. Lauren Ballard, Chief of Staff at the Energy and Environment. Andrea Hopkins, Government of Fair Specialist, Energy and Environment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yeah, this is J7 document on the third page. Page three. There's a three accounts there. Abandoned mind, laying, reclamation, brownfield, community-wide assessment grants. And then circle, brownfield. Can you kind of tell me what those are for and what are we doing there and where's it located? Is that money we've spent or is that just budgeted money? I will do my best. I'm pulling that up right now so I can look along with you. But I can tell you with the abandoned minds, those grants when we apply for those. Those are usually site-specific. And I'm going to look at Andrea here to confirm. Those are usually site-specific grants so we'll go. There's a site we're actually looking for and we'll develop a plan and write one of those grants. Specific to that site. So that is certainly something I could get you more information on. Which particular sites those are related to. I think the same is true for the brownfield grants as well. I think those are site-specific so I can get definitely get more information about that. And I think you also mentioned the circular grant. Yeah. That the last one. I would have to look and see if that is also site-specific. That might be a more open-ended to sort of maintain some of the Office of Land Resources work that they do in that office. But that is certainly something I could get you some supplemental information on. Well, I would appreciate that. But the abandoned mind. Is that mostly south of Little Rock? Is that the area? Or do you know? No, it's mostly in northwest Arkansas. Northwest. Okay. And brownfield activity. Do you know if we have a lot of brownfields in the state? I mean, those can be extensive. I've been involved in one of them a long, long time ago now. But what kind of activity we got? We got a lot of brownfield activity going on. I think so. You know, I know these projects. The ones that have seen lately. There's a lot of. I can think of one that was underway. I believe in Little Rock. I don't know if they started it, but was a proposal to transform a school into a community center. Just really reintroducing properties that have some issues back into proper use. But I can certainly for those particular ones look up which projects. Yeah, Mr. Chairman, I'd like to get some information on that to the committee. Okay. Can you send that to staff so we can distribute it to the members? I will. I will get that together. And I'll submit to Mr. Parrish. Is that okay? So he can distribute it to the committee? Yes. All right. Thank you so much. Thank you very much. Senator Irving your recognize. When this report. I'm right here. Sorry. I'm not flippant. Under total. What is total obligations? Is that where are these? Where does that number come from? On your report on J7, where it says total obligations. And I'm looking for J7. It was not. It was not up on the website when we put together a report. But I'm trying to see if it's up there now so I can give you a better answer. I see that we have the agency, the program listed, the appropriation amount, the appropriation date, then total obligations. So I'm just trying to understand where that number is generated from. Oh, okay. I apologize. Thank you. If I gave us a copy, so we might be getting a better answer. Yeah. I think that would be probably how much we have committed to at this time to spend. Okay. So we've committed. Okay. I'm just. Or have actually spent. That might be actual spend. Total obligations as actual spend. But we have an appropriate. Okay. So it can I give you an example, Senator? Sure. Where I think that the discrepancy may be there. So for like, for example, ban and mine reclamation, there might be a site we've identified. And we have gone through a process, usually with DBA, to find someone to help us reclaim those lands, we wouldn't pay them the entire amount of the project upfront. We would pay it as it as it goes along. So it could be that there's a project that's a million dollars hypothetically and worth 300,000 of the way in. That's total spend. So I think that total obligation would reflect the spend in that way. Okay. Okay. Because I was just trying to figure out if these numbers are supposed to match up with the appropriation amount, but it's not. It would be, I believe, just what we have actually spent at this time. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions, members? Seeing none. We have no other business. We are adjourned. Senator. Sorry. Sorry.