JBC-PEER REVIEW approves temporary appropriations, ARPA workforce grants and $50,000 transfer

The JBC-PEER REVIEW approved a set of temporary appropriations and ARPA-funded workforce grants and authorized a $50,000 transfer to fund an earlier quartermaster appropriation, the committee said during a meeting where members recorded no opposition to the measures.

Committee members approved four temporary spending-authority requests and 13 ARPA workforce and nursing program appropriation requests, covering equipment and training for state public safety and law enforcement and capital and operating support for colleges expanding nursing and workforce programs. The committee also reviewed a ratification request and a new construction contract for the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) and received multiple contract and monthly reports.

The most immediate approvals were four temporary-appropriation items for public safety agencies. The Department of Public Safety, Division of State Police, received $300,000 in temporary appropriation authority to purchase evidence storage and key-inventory systems and to replace network equipment damaged by lightning; the packet lists general special revenue as the supporting source. The Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training received two separate requests for $60,000 each: one to support additional training and operational needs for the law enforcement training program (supported by special revenue) and another to provide additional training and ammunition needs (supported by general revenue). A $2,000 request was approved to provide professional development for the criminal detention facilities program (supported by the State Central Service fund). Members approved a single motion to accept items b1 through b4, and the motion passed with no recorded opposition.

The committee approved 13 ARPA-funded workforce and nursing program appropriations (items c1–c13). Highlights include:

- Arkansas Tech University: $327,000 to pay additional adjunct faculty, technology, furniture and supplies to increase capacity in its practical nursing program and to cover pharmacology testing for students. - University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville: $5,000,000 to support a precision agriculture program by constructing an educational working farm and renovating an industrial building (packet lists ARPA as the funding source for the project gateway center elsewhere in the packet). - Arkansas State University: $2,590,000 to expand nursing apprenticeships and clinical rotations, recruit and retain nurse educators, purchase equipment and expand simulation centers. - Henderson State University: $761,000 to expand simulation labs, recruit and retain nurse educators and increase program capacity. - Northwest Arkansas Community College: $2,100,000 to establish three practical-nursing faculty positions, expand labs and simulation capacity. - North Arkansas College: $656,000 to establish two instructor positions, support student supplies and classroom equipment to address nursing shortages. - UA Community College at Batesville (separate item): $368,000 for salary reimbursement, a simulation room, equipment and medical supplies for medication administration training. - Arkansas State University Mountain Home: $625,000 for workforce-shortage interventions and industry-driven career pathways. - Southern Arkansas University Tech: $5,000,000 to develop employer-driven career pathways and collaborate with workforce partners. - University of Central Arkansas: $476,000 for equipment, supplies, scholarships and salary match to increase nursing graduates. - Arkansas State University Newport: $250,000 for workforce training, marketing outreach, equipment and instructor salaries to expand manufacturing technician pathways and apprenticeships. - Arkansas State University Three Rivers: $2,800,000 to reimburse renovation and expansion costs for a campus facility supporting workforce training programs.

Committee members moved and seconded approval for items c1 through c13; the motion passed with no recorded opposition.

The committee also approved a single restricted-reserve fund transfer (item d): a $50,000 transfer from the "various general discretionary majority vote set-aside account" within the fund to the Department of Public Safety, Division of State Police. The packet explains the transfer will fund a quartermaster appropriation authorized in the last session. Members approved the transfer by voice vote; the record shows no opposition.

On contracts and procurement items, the committee reviewed a UCA construction contract matter (item i1). UCA requested ratification of $309,000 in payments for work performed after an expired contract term and approval of a new original contract for $283,000 with the same vendor (listed in the packet as Stockman) to complete architectural design services for reconstruction of a dormitory. The packet says UCA allowed the prior contract to expire while invoices for post-expiration work remained outstanding; UCA requests ratification of those payments and review of the new contract. The committee reviewed these construction contract items and related ratifications; the transcript records review without objection.

The packet also included methods-of-finance items (item g) listing two new methods: UA Community College at Batesville using ARPA funds for a farm project gateway center (listed at $4,600,000 in the methods-of-finance detail) and UA Rich Mountain using DHS grant reimbursements for a new allied health building (listed at $12,000,000). Philip Wilson, chancellor of UA Rich Mountain, told the committee that the Rich Mountain request involves federal money routed through a senator's office to health resources: "This is federal money coming from Senator Bose's office to the Health Resources," he said. The committee reviewed those items without objection.

Multiple other contract extensions and report items were presented for review, including out-of-state contract ratifications for custodial services at ASU Mid-South and extensions for skilled nursing personnel contracts at state hospital facilities, an electronic visit verification system contract and an internship program contract for state parks. The Department of Public Safety presented in-state contract requests for electrical and data installations across its facilities and other institutional managed-services agreements. The committee accepted monthly reports and a maternal health quarterly report, with no member raising questions.

With no further business, the committee adjourned.