Matt McKee — Matt McKee is repeatedly addressed as Mr. Chair/Mr. Chairman during the meeting, including at the close of the DHS findings presentation and throughout the question period, indicating his role as the presiding chair during this segment.
Mr. Bullington — Presented the audit reports to the committee.
Jamie Fisher — Identified herself as CFO for Parks, Heritage and Tourism.
Shea Lewis — Shea Lewis, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, explained that at the museum’s rental facility an employee had been taking rental payments without entering them into the cash register. He said new point-of-sale and reservation systems were implemented in response.
Steve Unger — Steve Unger is addressed as Chairman/Mr. Secretary across a short sequence of remarks. The exchange begins with a brief acknowledgment, then moves into questions seeking a plain-language explanation of missing money and whether there has been any further contact with the prosecuting attorney about the matter.
Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism — Reported that it has implemented action plans and controls and submitted a management response letter.
Rebecca Burkes — The chair initially misidentified the member speaking as Representative Burks.
Rebecca Burkes — Asked whether one employee handled all bookings or whether multiple employees did.
Rebecca Burkes — Was told she would have the next question after this one.
Rebecca Burkes — Asked which museum was involved.
Rebecca Burkes — Asked whether the prosecutor's office was waiting for information from the agency and noted the issue was news to them.
Karilyn Brown — Karilyn Brown, after being corrected as the speaker, continued a single line of questioning about a reference to the bond board. She asked where that language appears in the document, whether the matter had been referred to the bond board, and whether the loss had been reimbursed or whether park funds were protected by bond coverage.
Jimmy Gazaway — The transcript appears to say 'Representative Gonzalez,' but the expected member list does not include Gonzalez; this may be a mis-transcription of a member name.
Jimmy Gazaway — The chair recognized Mr. Bullington to speak, and the transcript indicates he had updated information from the prosecuting attorney.
Department of Human Services — The FY24 audit report for DHS was introduced, including three findings.
agency representatives — Committee invited agency representatives to come forward and make statements.
Renee Eichard — Identified herself as Chief Fiscal Officer for DHS.
Brett Hayes — Identified himself as Chief Deputy Counsel for DHS.
Stephen Meeks — Asked for an update on the missing items in finding three.
Stephen Meeks — Stephen Meeks was recognized and then asked a series of follow-up questions. He first asked whether the missing $3,500 from the museum had been misappropriated or stolen and whether the investigation was still ongoing. He then pressed for timing details on that issue before shifting to War Memorial Stadium, expressing skepticism about the state’s takeover of the stadium and asking whether there had been adequate controls over the stadium’s change account.
Alan Clark — Representative Richardson is likely a transcription error for a committee member; the transcript does not clearly identify the speaker, so no member ID is assigned here.
Ms. Ikerd — Ms. Ikerd, the agency CFO, was made aware of the forgery, and this occurred before Legislative Audit was notified.
Brett — Asked to help explain the contract purpose.
Mr. Hayes — Cited as supporting the explanation that the issue was a misunderstanding.