SB 57

Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
  Act 26 of the Fiscal Session
1 State of Arkansas
2 95th General Assembly  A Bill
3 Fiscal Session, 2026  SENATE BILL 57
4
5 By: Joint Budget Committee
6
7
8For An Act To Be Entitled
9AN ACT TO MAKE AN APPROPRIATION FOR PERSONAL SERVICES
10AND OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
11EDUCATION - ARKANSAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND
12FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2027; AND FOR
13OTHER PURPOSES.
14
15
16Subtitle
17AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION -
18ARKANSAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND
19APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL
20YEAR.
21
22
23 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
24
25SECTION 1. REGULAR SALARIES.  There is hereby established for the
26 Department of Education - Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind for the
27 2026-2027 fiscal year, the following maximum number of regular employees.
28
29Maximum Annual
30Maximum  Salary Rate
31  Item    Class  No. of  Fiscal Year
32   No.    Code       Title  Employees  2026-2027
33   (1)    ESA04C SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT  1  GRADE SPC08
34   (2)    ESA03C PRINCIPAL  2  GRADE SPC05
35   (3)    EES02P EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL II  1  GRADE SPC04
36   (4)    EES01P EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL I  6  GRADE SPC02
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1  (5)   SCM02P LICENSED ASSOCIATE COUNSELOR  1  GRADE SPC01
2  (6)   SCM07P SCHOOL COUNSELOR  2  GRADE SPC01
3  (7)   TFS03C FOOD SERVICES MANAGER  2  GRADE SGS09
4  (8)   SIA23P PUBLIC SAFETY SUPERVISOR/EXPERT       1  GRADE SGS08
5  (9)   TMA02C MAINTENANCE MANAGER  1  GRADE SGS07
6 (10)   PRC02C RESIDENTIAL SERVICES MANAGER  1  GRADE SGS07
7 (11)   PAS08I EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT  1  GRADE SGS07
8 (12)   EEP03P EDUCATION PROGRAM COORDINATOR  5  GRADE SGS07
9 (13)   ETF06P TEACHER II  44  GRADE SGS07
10 (14)   EEP05P EDUCATION PROGRAM SPECIALIST  1  GRADE SGS06
11 (15)   ELI01P LIBRARIAN  1  GRADE SGS06
12 (16)   TST04P SKILLED TRADESMAN  4  GRADE SGS06
13 (17)   ETF05P TEACHER I  22  GRADE SGS06
14 (18)   PAS01P ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST  3  GRADE SGS05
15 (19)   FGM02P GRANTS COORDINATOR  1  GRADE SGS05
16 (20)   TIW04P INVENTORY SUPERVISOR/EXPERT  1  GRADE SGS05
17 (21)   PAS02P ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR  4  GRADE SGS04
18 (22)   PRC05P RESIDENTIAL CARE SUPERVISOR/EXPERT    4  GRADE SGS04
19 (23)   THT01I CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT  1  GRADE SGS03
20 (24)   EEP01P EDUCATION PARAPROFESSIONAL  29  GRADE SGS03
21 (25)   TIW03P INVENTORY SPECIALIST  2  GRADE SGS03
22 (26)   TFS05P KITCHEN SUPERVISOR/EXPERT  2  GRADE SGS03
23 (27)   TMA05P MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN  9  GRADE SGS03
24 (28)   PAS03P ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST  9  GRADE SGS02
25 (29)   TGR01P LANDSCAPE COORDINATOR  1  GRADE SGS02
26 (30)   TFS01P COOK  16  GRADE SGS01
27 (31)   THO01P HOUSEKEEPER  7  GRADE SGS01
28 (32)   PRC04P RESIDENTIAL CARE SPECIALIST  30  GRADE SGS01
29 (33)   MLM01C AUDIOLOGIST  1  GRADE MED07
30 (34)   MLM07C SPEECH PATHOLOGIST  6  GRADE MED07
31 (35)   MNU08P REG. NURSE SUPERVISOR/EXPERT  1  GRADE MED06
32 (36)   MNU06P REGISTERED NURSE  2  GRADE MED05
33 (37)   MNU01P LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE  4  GRADE MED02
34 (38)   IUS01P USER SUPPORT ANALYST  1  GRADE IST04
35 (39)   IUS04P USER SUPPORT SPECIALIST  2  GRADE IST02
36 (40)   FAC11C DIVISION FISCAL ADMINISTRATOR  1  GRADE SPC07
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1  (41)   CPR04I INTERPRETER  1  GRADE SGS07
2  (42)   SSE01P SECURITY GUARD  1  GRADE SGS03
3MAX. NO. OF EMPLOYEES  235
4
5SECTION 2. EXTRA HELP - OPERATIONS.   There is hereby authorized, for
6 the Department of Education - Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind for the
7 2026-2027 fiscal year, the following maximum number of part-time or temporary
8 employees, to be known as "Extra Help", payable from funds appropriated
9 herein for such purposes: seventy-two (72) temporary or part-time employees,
10 when needed, at rates of pay not to exceed those provided in the Uniform
11 Classification and Compensation Act, or its successor, or this act for the
12 appropriate classification.
13
14SECTION 3. APPROPRIATION - STATE OPERATIONS.   There is hereby
15 appropriated, to the Department of Education, to be payable from the Arkansas
16 School for the Deaf and Blind Fund Account, for personal services and
17 operating expenses of the Department of Education - Arkansas School for the
18 Deaf and Blind - State Operations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027,
19 the following:
20
21 ITEM  FISCAL YEAR
22  NO.  2026-2027
23 (01)    REGULAR SALARIES  $11,043,181
24 (02)    EXTRA HELP  120,000
25 (03)    PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING  4,322,375
26 (04)    OVERTIME  35,000
27 (05)    MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION
28(A) OPER. EXPENSE  3,172,510
29(B) CONF. & TRAVEL  36,329
30(C) PROF. FEES  111,308
31(D) CAP. OUTLAY  100,000
32(E) DATA PROC.  0
33 (06)    SPECIAL MAINTENANCE  2,719,627
34 (07)    VOCATIONAL WORKSTUDY  20,000
35 (08)    MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITIES  20,000
36 (09)    SUMMER PROJECTS  25,000
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1TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED  $21,725,330
2
3SECTION 4. APPROPRIATION - FEDERAL OPERATIONS.   There is hereby
4 appropriated, to the Department of Education, to be payable from the federal
5 funds as designated by the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, for personal
6 services and operating expenses of the Department of Education - Arkansas
7 School for the Deaf and Blind - Federal Operations for the fiscal year ending
8 June 30, 2027, the following:
9
10 ITEM  FISCAL YEAR
11  NO.  2026-2027
12 (01)   REGULAR SALARIES  $127,405
13 (02)   EXTRA HELP  69,000
14 (03)   PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING  55,446
15 (04)   OVERTIME  8,393
16 (05)   MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION
17(A) OPER. EXPENSE  1,360,020
18(B) CONF. & TRAVEL  120,000
19(C) PROF. FEES  409,171
20(D) CAP. OUTLAY  175,000
21(E) DATA PROC.  0
22TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED  $2,324,435
23
24SECTION 5. APPROPRIATION - CASH OPERATIONS.   There is hereby
25 appropriated, to the Department of Education, to be payable from cash funds
26 as defined by Arkansas Code §19-4-801, for operating expenses of the
27 Department of Education - Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind - Cash
28 Operations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following:
29
30 ITEM  FISCAL YEAR
31  NO.  2026-2027
32 (01)   MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION
33(A) OPER. EXPENSE  $439,644
34(B) CONF. & TRAVEL  48,000
35(C) PROF. FEES  126,864
36(D) CAP. OUTLAY  145,000
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1(E) DATA PROC.  0
2 (02)   SPECIAL MAINTENANCE  175,000
3TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED  $934,508
4
5SECTION 6. APPROPRIATION - BRAILLE AND LARGE PRINT TEXTBOOKS.     There is
6 hereby appropriated, to the Department of Education, to be payable from the
7 Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind Fund Account, for purchasing, copying,
8 and shipping braille and large print textbooks for the blind and visually
9 impaired students attending public schools in Arkansas by the Department of
10 Education - Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind - Braille and Large Print
11 Textbooks for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following:
12
13 ITEM  FISCAL YEAR
14  NO.  2026-2027
15 (01)   BRAILLE AND LARGE PRINT TEXTBOOKS  $223,024
16
17SECTION 7. APPROPRIATION - STUDENT NEEDS AND CAMPUS ENHANCEMENTS.
18 There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Education, to be payable
19 from the cash fund deposited in the State Treasury as determined by the Chief
20 Fiscal Officer of the State, for student needs and campus enhancements of the
21 Department of Education - Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind - Student
22 Needs and Campus Enhancements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the
23 following:
24
25 ITEM  FISCAL YEAR
26  NO.  2026-2027
27 (01)   STUDENT NEEDS AND CAMPUS ENHANCEMENTS  $250,000
28
29SECTION 8. SPECIAL LANGUAGE.   NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS
30 CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. ARKANSAS
31 SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND - TRANSFER PROVISION.    Upon approval from the
32 Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind
33 shall transfer appropriation from the Summer Projects line item, in the State
34 Operations Appropriation of this Act, to the Regular Salaries, Extra Help,
35 Personal Services Matching, Overtime and Maintenance & General Operations
36 line items in the State Operations Appropriation of this Act, to compensate
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1 staff who work during the summer months on summer projects, and to cover
2 other expenses of summer project activities.       The Summer Projects line item
3 may also be used for the annual cost related to the compensation of eligible
4 staff for shift differential pay as well as compensation of employees for
5 performance of duties assigned as referenced in the Special Allowance Special
6 Language Section of this Act. Such additional compensation shall not be
7 construed as exceeding the maximum salary authorized for said employees.
8The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1,
9 2025 2026 through June 30, 2026 2027.
10
11SECTION 9. SPECIAL LANGUAGE.    NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS
12 CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. ADE - ASDB
13 - SUMMER SCHOOL EMPLOYEES.      Exempt employees who require job responsibilities
14 less than 2080 hours may work during summer months with approval from school
15 Superintendent.      Said employees shall be authorized as additional
16 compensation an amount not to exceed 1/12 of their annual salary for each
17 month or part thereof worked.      Such additional compensation shall not be
18 construed as exceeding the maximum salary authorized for said employees.
19   The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025
20 2026 through June 30, 2026 2027.
21
22SECTION 10. SPECIAL LANGUAGE.   NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS
23 CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. CARRY
24 FORWARD OF FUNDS - ASDB.
25(a)   The Chief Fiscal Officer of the State shall cause to be
26 transferred on his or her books and those of the State Treasurer and Auditor
27 of State the balance of General Revenue funds remaining in the Arkansas
28 School for the Deaf and Blind Fund Account on June 30, 2025 2026 into a sub-
29 fund created within the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind Fund Account
30 to be used for special maintenance, renovations, or future construction
31 projects of the Department of Education - Arkansas School for the Deaf and
32 Blind.
33(b)   Any carry forward of the unexpended balance of funding as
34 authorized herein, may be carried forward under the following conditions:
35(1)   The Office of Budget of the Department of Finance and
36 Administration shall report to the Legislative Council all amounts carried
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1 forward by the September meeting of the Legislative Council or the Joint
2 Budget Committee meeting which report shall include the name of the agency,
3 board, commission, or institution and the amount of funding carried forward,
4 the program name or line item and the funding source; and
5(2) The Department of Education - Arkansas School for the Deaf
6 and Blind shall provide a written report to the Legislative Council or Joint
7 Budget Committee containing all information set forth in subdivision (b)(1)
8 of this section no later than thirty (30) days prior to the time the
9 Department presents its budget request to the Legislative Council or Joint
10 Budget Committee, or both; and
11(3) Thereupon, the Department of Finance and Administration shall
12 include all information obtained in subdivision (b)(2) of this section in the
13 budget manuals.
14      (c) The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1,
15 2025 2026 through June 30, 2026 2027.
16
17      SECTION 11. SPECIAL LANGUAGE.   NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS
18 CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. ARKANSAS
19 SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND - TRANSFER PROVISION.   Upon approval from the
20 Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind
21 shall transfer appropriation from the Miscellaneous Activities line item in
22 the State Operations Appropriation of this Act, to the Regular Salaries,
23 Extra Help, Personal Service Matching, Overtime, and Maintenance and General
24 Operations line items also in the State Operations Appropriation, to
25 compensate staff who work during the summer months on summer projects and to
26 cover other expenses of summer project activities. The Miscellaneous
27 Activities line item may also be used for the annual cost related to the
28 payment of contracted interpreter services, compensation of eligible staff
29 for shift differential pay, and compensation of employees for performance of
30 duties assigned as referenced in the Special Allowance Special Language of
31 this Act.   Such additional compensation shall not be construed as exceeding
32 the maximum salary authorized for said employees.
33   The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025
34 2026 through June 30, 2026 2027.
35
36      SECTION 12. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS.   Disbursement of funds
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1 authorized by this act shall be limited to the appropriation for such agency
2 and funds made available by law for the support of such appropriations; and
3 the restrictions of the State Procurement Law, the General Accounting and
4 Budgetary Procedures Law, the Revenue Stabilization Law, the Regular Salary
5 Procedures and Restrictions Act, or their successors, and other fiscal
6 control laws of this State, where applicable, and regulations promulgated by
7 the Department of Finance and Administration, as authorized by law, shall be
8 strictly complied with in disbursement of said funds.
9
10      SECTION 13. LEGISLATIVE INTENT.   It is the intent of the General
11 Assembly that any funds disbursed under the authority of the appropriations
12 contained in this act shall be in compliance with the stated reasons for
13 which this act was adopted, as evidenced by the Agency Requests, Executive
14 Recommendations and Legislative Recommendations contained in the budget
15 manuals prepared by the Department of Finance and Administration, letters, or
16 summarized oral testimony in the official minutes of the Arkansas Legislative
17 Council or Joint Budget Committee which relate to its passage and adoption.
18
19      SECTION 14. EMERGENCY CLAUSE.   It is found and determined by the
20 General Assembly, that the Constitution of the State of Arkansas prohibits
21 the appropriation of funds for more than a one (1) year period; that the
22 effectiveness of this Act on July 1, 2026 is essential to the operation of
23 the agency for which the appropriations in this Act are provided, and that in
24 the event of an extension of the legislative session, the delay in the
25 effective date of this Act beyond July 1, 2026 could work irreparable harm
26 upon the proper administration and provision of essential governmental
27 programs. Therefore, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this Act
28 being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health
29 and safety shall be in full force and effect from and after July 1, 2026.
30
31
32APPROVED: 4/22/26
33
34
35
36
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