SB 60

Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
  Act 83 of the Fiscal Session
1 State of Arkansas
2 95th General Assembly  A Bill
3 Fiscal Session, 2026  SENATE BILL 60
4
5 By: Joint Budget Committee
6
7
8For An Act To Be Entitled
9AN ACT TO REAPPROPRIATE THE BALANCES OF CAPITAL
10IMPROVEMENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC
11DEFENDER COMMISSION; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
12
13
14Subtitle
15AN ACT FOR THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC
16DEFENDER COMMISSION REAPPROPRIATION.
17
18
19 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
20
21SECTION 1. REAPPROPRIATION - JUVENILE OFFENDERS.  There is hereby
22 appropriated, to the Arkansas Public Defender Commission, to be payable from
23 the Development and Enhancement Fund, for the Arkansas Public Defender
24 Commission the following:
25(A)    Effective July 1, 2026, the balance of the appropriation provided
26 in Item (A) of Section 1 of Act 75 of 2025, for expenses related to the
27 resentencing of juveniles sentenced to mandatory life without parole, in a
28 sum not to exceed ..................................................$167,641.
29
30SECTION 2. DISBURSEMENT CONTROLS. (A)  No contract may be awarded nor
31 obligations otherwise incurred in relation to the project or projects
32 described herein in excess of the State Treasury funds actually available
33 therefor as provided by law.  Provided, however, that institutions and
34 agencies listed herein shall have the authority to accept and use grants and
35 donations including Federal funds, and to use its unobligated cash income or
36 funds, or both available to it, for the purpose of supplementing the State
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  SB60
1 Treasury funds for financing the entire costs of the project or projects
2 enumerated herein.   Provided further, that the appropriations and funds
3 otherwise provided by the General Assembly for Maintenance and General
4 Operations of the agency or institutions receiving appropriation herein shall
5 not be used for any of the purposes as appropriated in this act.
6      (B) The restrictions of any applicable provisions of the State
7 Purchasing Law, the General Accounting and Budgetary Procedures Law, the
8 Revenue Stabilization Law and any other applicable fiscal control laws of
9 this State and regulations promulgated by the Department of Finance and
10 Administration, as authorized by law, shall be strictly complied with in
11 disbursement of any funds provided by this act unless specifically provided
12 otherwise by law.
13
14      SECTION 3. LEGISLATIVE INTENT.   It is the intent of the General
15 Assembly that any funds disbursed under the authority of the appropriations
16 contained in this act shall be in compliance with the stated reasons for
17 which this act was adopted, as evidenced by the Agency Requests, Executive
18 Recommendations and Legislative Recommendations contained in the budget
19 manuals prepared by the Department of Finance and Administration, letters, or
20 summarized oral testimony in the official minutes of the Arkansas Legislative
21 Council or Joint Budget Committee which relate to its passage and adoption.
22
23      SECTION 4. EMERGENCY CLAUSE.   It is found and determined by the General
24 Assembly, that the Constitution of the State of Arkansas prohibits the
25 appropriation of funds for more than a one (1) year period; that the
26 effectiveness of this Act on July 1, 2026 is essential to the operation of
27 the agency for which the appropriations in this Act are provided, and that in
28 the event of an extension of the legislative session, the delay in the
29 effective date of this Act beyond July 1, 2026 could work irreparable harm
30 upon the proper administration and provision of essential governmental
31 programs. Therefore, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this Act
32 being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health
33 and safety shall be in full force and effect from and after July 1, 2026.
34
35APPROVED: 4/27/26
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204/14/2026 2:00:34 PM JAR125