Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

Stricken language will be deleted and underlined language will be added.
                                             Act 617 of the Regular Session
 State of Arkansas                       As Engrossed:        S4/3/23
 94th General Assembly                            A Bill
 Regular Session, 2023                                                                  SENATE BILL 239
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 By: Joint Budget Committee
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                                      For An Act To Be Entitled
                AN ACT TO MAKE AN APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
                COMMERCE FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS; AND FOR
                OTHER PURPOSES.
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                                                   Subtitle
                           AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                           CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT APPROPRIATION.
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 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
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        SECTION 1. APPROPRIATION - CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.                            There is
 hereby appropriated, to the Department of Commerce, to be payable from the
 Skills Development Fund of the Department of Commerce, the following:
        (A) for acquisition of property, operations, debt service, personal
 services, construction and equipping of the Arkansas Manufacturing and
 Robotics Center, in a sum not to exceed .........................$42,000,000.
        (B) for personal services, operating expenses, payment of debt service,
 construction, acquisition, equipment, and grants for comprehensive statewide
 workforce development programs, in a sum not to exceed ..........$28,000,000.
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        SECTION 2. DISBURSEMENT CONTROLS. (A)                    No contract may be awarded nor
 obligations otherwise incurred in relation to the project or projects
 described herein in excess of the State Treasury funds actually available
 therefor as provided by law.               Provided, however, that institutions and
 agencies listed herein shall have the authority to accept and use grants and
 donations including Federal funds, and to use its unobligated cash income or
 funds, or both available to it, for the purpose of supplementing the State
     *MAH047*                                                                        04-03-2023 13:31:39 MAH047
     As Engrossed:   S4/3/23                                                     SB239
 Treasury funds for financing the entire costs of the project or projects
 enumerated herein.   Provided further, that the appropriations and funds
 otherwise provided by the General Assembly for Maintenance and General
 Operations of the agency or institutions receiving appropriation herein shall
 not be used for any of the purposes as appropriated in this act.
      (B) The restrictions of any applicable provisions of the State
 Purchasing Law, the General Accounting and Budgetary Procedures Law, the
 Revenue Stabilization Law and any other applicable fiscal control laws of
 this State and regulations promulgated by the Department of Finance and
 Administration, as authorized by law, shall be strictly complied with in
 disbursement of any funds provided by this act unless specifically provided
 otherwise by law.
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      SECTION 3. LEGISLATIVE INTENT.     It is the intent of the General
 Assembly that any funds disbursed under the authority of the appropriations
 contained in this act shall be in compliance with the stated reasons for
 which this act was adopted, as evidenced by the Agency Requests, Executive
 Recommendations and Legislative Recommendations contained in the budget
 manuals prepared by the Department of Finance and Administration, letters, or
 summarized oral testimony in the official minutes of the Arkansas Legislative
 Council or Joint Budget Committee which relate to its passage and adoption.
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      SECTION 4. EMERGENCY CLAUSE.   It is found and determined by the General
 Assembly, that the Constitution of the State of Arkansas prohibits the
 appropriation of funds for more than a one (1) year period; that the
 effectiveness of this Act on July 1, 2023 is essential to the operation of
 the agency for which the appropriations in this Act are provided, and that in
 the event of an extension of the legislative session, the delay in the
 effective date of this Act beyond July 1, 2023 could work irreparable harm
 upon the proper administration and provision of essential governmental
 programs. Therefore, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this Act
 being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health
 and safety shall be in full force and effect from and after July 1, 2023.
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                            /s/Joint Budget Committee
                                APPROVED: 4/11/23
                                         2                  04-03-2023 13:31:39 MAH047