The bill establishes the 2030 Arkansas Complete Count Committee, which is tasked with planning and conducting statewide educational and outreach initiatives to enhance community awareness and participation in the upcoming 2030 Federal Decennial Census. The committee will consist of 30 members, including representatives from various state departments, local governments, and nonprofit organizations, particularly those serving historically undercounted populations. The committee is required to meet regularly, advise state agencies, and collaborate with the United States Bureau of the Census to develop strategies aimed at improving the state's response rate for the census.
Additionally, the bill outlines the committee's responsibilities, which include analyzing the causes of the undercount in the 2020 Census, recommending appropriations for outreach efforts, and providing written reports of findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislative Council by specified deadlines. The committee is set to continue its work until September 1, 2030, and will also prepare for outreach related to the 2040 Census before it expires on September 30, 2030. The bill emphasizes the importance of an accurate census count for federal funding and representation, particularly in light of Arkansas's previous undercount rates.