Arkansas Legislative Council – Review Subcommittee
Posted on November 4th, 2009
Date & Time: Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Location: Room 171, State Capitol
Committee Information: Subcommittee Members
Agenda: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2009/Lists/Meetings/Attachments/12317/I7868.pdf
Attachments: Click here
This committee reviews Agency requests for professional services contracts and consultant services contracts. (A.C.A. 19-11-1006). Proposed methods of financing for capital expenditures in excess of $250,000 which have not been approved by the General Assembly (A.C.A. 22-9-104) are reviewed by this committee. Requests of state agencies for leasing of motor vehicles (for more than 30 days) prior to final approval of said lease by this state purchasing administrator (A.C.A. 22-8-102) are approved by this committee. Also, other matters may be referred to this committee by the Legislative Council.
10:05 am – Committee called to order by chairman, Rep. David Dunn. Minutes were reviewed and approved.
10:09 am – We are currently reviewing various State Agencies regarding Methods of Finance. Today the agencies are Mid-South Community College, National Park Community College, University of Arkansas – Monticello, and the War Memorial Stadium Commission. These items were reviewed without questions or comments.
10:13 am – At this point we would normally be reviewing the various state agencies regarding the General Contractors Construction Projects exceeding Five Million Dollars, but there are not currently up for review.
10:13 am – Currently we are reviewing various state agencies regarding Discretionary Grants. Chairman Dunn is asking a question of Karen Bassett, Deputy Director for ADEQ about grants that appear to have large discepancy in how much it is costing the various solid waste management districts to dispose of e-waste. Apparently the Boston Mountain Regional Solid Waste District is quite a bit higher than others up for review. The explainaton is how the various districts fund e-waste disposal. Some fund a much larger percentage out of their operation budget rather than grants.
10:20 am – The discretionary grants for the the Arkansas Department of Health were reviewed without question or comment.
10:21 am – The various grants for a total of $200,000 for curbing gambling addictions through the Department of Human Services are being reviewed. This and other grants through DHS stood reviewed without question or comment.
10:23 am – We are currently reviewing various agencies regarding Professional/Consultant Services Contracts. Rep. Clark asking for information about item #10 on page 53 of the attachments. Apparently this is final expenses on a project that went over $155,000 on a $22 million project. These construction related contracts stand reviewed.
10:20 am – We are currently reviewing out of state professional/consultant services contracts. Rep. Terry Rice has a question for DHS concerning item #7 on page 57 of the attachments. Rex Jones, Contracts Support Section of DHS came forward to answer. Rep. Rice is asking about a contract to provide ASAP (Adolescent Sexual Adjustment Program?) Residential Treatment for DCFS clients statewide. This program treats sexually abusive chlidren and may care for their children indefinately. Rep. Rice has numerous informational questions. He asks if not documenting injuries would violate contract terms. He asks what sort of oversight does DHS take over this program. Apparently the just have licensure, but they have no periodic reviews other than licensure. The DHS representative says that anomalies should be caught through licensure. Rep. Rice asks if there would be a motive for the treatment service to keep kids beyond there needed treatment. The DHS representative admitted there would be a financial interest. Rep. Rice makes the point that the $1,661,520 cost is over the $1,406,020 for the treatment of only 10 children. Rep. Rice is asking for an assurance from DHS that they insure that the terms of the contract are met. The DHS representative is asking for specific violations and is trying to worm out of responsiblity. Rep. Rice is making the point that a complete audit is reasonably expected of the program director to insure that propriety is maintained. He makes the point that this is DHS job, and if they are not going to be reviewed by DHS then legislative audit may be an alternative. Although Rep. Rice did not initially request to hold the contract, upon being asked if he was satified with how this was address and if he would like to hold the contract, Rep. Rice said he thought it would probably be good to hold the contract for now. The contract was held for further review.
10:53 am – Sen. Laverty is asking informational questions about the ramifications of this committee holding a contract on the funding of contracts. He is asking that a we create a subcommittee that we categorically scrutinize any expenditures of state dollars and send a message to the agencies that they need to make an effort to become more responsible with their money.
10:57 am – I apologize to my readers, but I need to step out to return a phone call that requires an immediate response.
11:00 am – While I was gone, Rep. Glidewell is asking for specific metrics that demonstrate the success for DHS contracts for smoking succession. This must be about the 1000th time this question has been asked by members of the legislature, and about the 1000th time that we get a general unspecific and non-responsive answer. So much of DHS operates without measurable accountablity to judge the success of various program expenditures.
11:04 am – We are currently reviewing in-state contracts. Beside an informational question by Sen. J. Jeffress, the contracts stood reviewed without further question or comment.
11:08 am – Apparently there is a request for the Suspension of Rules for a UAPB Contract. Apparently this if for a contract funded by the ARRA “Stimulus”. This is for construction work on the UAPB campus. This stood reviewed withoug question or comment.
11:12 am – The remaining items on the agenda were reviewed without questions or comments. The committee is adjourned.
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