This bill appropriates funds for personal services and operating expenses for the Arkansas School for the Blind and the Arkansas School for the Deaf for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. It establishes a maximum of 98 regular employees for the Arkansas School for the Blind and 150 for the Arkansas School for the Deaf, along with provisions for part-time or temporary employees, referred to as "Extra Help." The bill details specific appropriations for various operational needs, including regular salaries, personal services matching, maintenance, and general operations. It also includes adjustments to employee compensation for summer projects and special allowances for additional duties, as well as provisions for purchasing braille and large print textbooks.

Furthermore, the bill authorizes salary adjustments for employees at both schools to align with the minimum compensation schedule set by Act 74 of the 2nd Extraordinary Session of the 84th General Assembly, contingent upon a review and approval process. It allows for special pay rates for certain educational positions and specifies that funding for these adjustments may derive from general revenues or agency salary savings. The bill also permits the carry forward of unexpended funds for maintenance and construction projects, is effective from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, and includes an emergency clause for immediate implementation. Notably, it updates the start time for shift work at the Arkansas School for the Deaf from 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Statutes affected:
SB 73: 6-43-116, 6-21-105
Act 869: 6-43-116, 6-21-105