This bill provides funding for the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, affecting the agency's ability to pay salaries and operate. It authorizes the hiring of up to 87 regular employees and 20 temporary staff while appropriating approximately $218 million for internal operations and $1.7 billion for paying retirement benefits to non-employee beneficiaries. The legislation also allocates specific funds for investment consultants, discount buyout plans, and general operating expenses like travel and professional fees.
HB 1061 allocates state funding for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing, specifically for its Shared Services and Division of Labor units. The bill establishes maximum staffing levels and salary rates for various positions, including administrative staff, legal counsel, inspectors, and investigators, while also authorizing temporary or part-time "extra help" when needed. A total of $3,853,152 is appropriated for Shared Services to cover salaries, benefits, and operating expenses, and an additional $2,691,381 is provided for the Division of Labor's state operations. These funds will support the department's core functions, such as industrial safety oversight, worker training, and legal support, without changing the underlying laws or regulations.
Senate Bill 37, now Act 15, provides funding for the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The legislation authorizes the hiring of up to 105 full-time employees and allows for additional temporary staff to support the commission's operations. It appropriates approximately $12 million from the Workers' Compensation Fund to cover salaries, administrative costs, and operating expenses, while also allocating $21.55 million from the Death and Permanent Total Disability Trust Fund for specific death and disability claims.
This bill provides state funding for the Arkansas Department of Commerce's Division of Workforce Services for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It allocates $10 million specifically for unemployment insurance modernization and an additional $2.5 million for adult education programs. The legislation also includes transitional authority to help the state plan and coordinate the consolidation of vocational rehabilitation services while ensuring federal compliance and uninterrupted service delivery.
HB 1063 authorizes funding for the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System and the State Police Retirement System for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The bill establishes the maximum number of regular and temporary employees, sets salary limits, and appropriates over $142 million for operational expenses, including salaries, benefits, and professional fees. Additionally, it allocates $725 million for direct benefit payments to retirees and $30 million for State Police Retirement System operations. Once signed into law, this act ensures the retirement systems have the necessary resources to manage their finances and pay benefits to eligible individuals.
This bill reappropriates up to $68 million from the Skills Development Fund to the Arkansas Department of Commerce's Division of Workforce Services for fiscal year 2026. The funds are designated for personal services, operating expenses, equipment, grants, and construction related to statewide workforce development programs. The legislation includes standard fiscal controls to ensure contracts do not exceed available state treasury funds and mandates compliance with existing purchasing and budget laws. An emergency clause is included to allow the funding to take effect on July 1, 2026, ensuring uninterrupted government operations despite potential legislative delays.
