Arkansas 2025 Regular Session

Arkansas House Bill HB1206 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
2		-	Act 792 of the Regular Session
3		-	KMW015 03-18-2025 16:56:36 KMW015
4		-
5		-	State of Arkansas As Engrossed: H3/18/25 1
	2	+	KMW015 01/23/2025 8:43:00 AM KMW015
	3	+	State of Arkansas 1
6	4		95th General Assembly A Bill 2
7	5		Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1206 3
8	6		4
9	7		By: Joint Budget Committee 5
10	8		6
11	9		7
12	10		For An Act To Be Entitled 8
13	11		AN ACT TO MAKE AN APPROPRIATION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL 9
14	12		FUND GRANTS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - 10
15	13		DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION - 11
16	14		PUBLIC SCHOOL FUND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 12
17	15		30, 2026; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 13
18	16		14
19	17		15
20	18		Subtitle 16
21	19		AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - 17
22	20		DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY 18
23	21		EDUCATION - PUBLIC SCHOOL FUND 19
24	22		APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025 -2026 FISCAL 20
25	23		YEAR. 21
26	24		22
27	25		23
28	26		BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 24
29	27		25
30	28		SECTION 1. APPROPRIATION - GRANTS AND AID TO LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND 26
31	29		SPECIAL PROGRAMS. There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of 27
32	30		Education, to be payable from the Division of Elementary and Secondary 28
33	31		Education Public School Fund Account , for grants and aid to local school 29
34	32		districts and special programs of the Department of Education - Division of 30
35	33		Elementary and Secondary Education for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, 31
36	34		the following: 32
37	35		33
38	36		ITEM FISCAL YEAR 34
39	37		NO. 2025-2026 35
40		-	(01) 98% URT ACTUAL COLLECTION ADJUSTMENT $34,500,000 36 ~~As Engrossed: H3/18/25~~ HB1206
	38	+	(01) 98% URT ACTUAL COLLECTION ADJUSTMENT $34,500,000 36 HB1206
41	39
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43		-
44		-
	40	+	2 01/23/2025 8:43:00 AM KMW015
45	41		(02) ADVANCED PLACEMENT INCENTIVE 1,275,000 1
46	42		(03) ALTERNATIVE LEARNING 35,783,095 2
47	43		(04) ARKANSAS EASTER SEALS 193,113 3
48	44		(05) ASSESSMENT/END OF LEVEL TESTING 20,309,189 4
49	45		(06) AT RISK 1,688,530 5
50	46		(07) BETTER CHANCE PROGRAM 114,000,000 6
51	47		(08) BONDED DEBT ASSISTANCE 28,455,384 7
52	48		(09) COMPUTER SCIENCE INITIATIVE 3,500,000 8
53	49		(10) CONSOLIDATION INCENTIVE 5,981,400 9
54	50		(11) CONTENT STANDARDS 161,000 10
55	51		(12) CONTENTS STANDARDS CURRICULUM FRAMEWORKS 50,000 11
56	52		(13) COOP EDUCATION TECH CENTERS 1,200,000 12
57	53		(14) COORDINATED SCHOOL HEALTH 2,000,000 13
58		-	(15) DECLINING ENROLLMENT 23,963,389 14
	54	+	(15) DECLINING ENROLLMENT 13,963,389 14
59	55		(16) DEPT OF CORRECTION 8,702,425 15
60	56		(17) DISTANCE LEARNING 4,760,000 16
61	57		(18) DISTANCE LEARNING OPERATIONS 7,575,000 17
62	58		(19) EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION 22,897,920 18
63	59		(20) ECONOMIC EDUCATION 400,000 19
64	60		(21) EDUCATION SERVICE COOPERATIVES 6,129,270 20
65	61		(22) ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS 19,075,847 21
66	62		(23) ENHANCED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT FUNDING 246,723,439 22
67	63		(24) ENHANCED TRANSPORTATION FUNDING 8,000,000 23
68		-	(25) ESA MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM 5,~~636~~,~~400~~ 24
69		-	(~~25.1~~)~~FREE BREAKFAST PROGRAM 14~~,~~700~~,~~000~~ 25
70		-	(26) ~~GIFTED & TALENTED 1~~,~~560,381~~ 26
71		-	(27) ~~GRANTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS 67~~,~~856~~ 27
72		-	(28) ~~HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CENTER EDUCATION AID 526~~,~~150~~ 28
73		-	(29) ~~INTERVENTION BLOCK GRANTS~~ ~~302~~,000 29
74		-	(30) ~~ISOLATED FUNDING 7~~,~~896~~,000 30
75		-	(31) ~~LEADERSHIP ACADEMY -~~MASTER PRINCIPAL ~~1,400~~,000 31
76		-	(32) ~~MASTER PRINCIPAL BONUS~~ ~~175~~,000 32
77		-	(33) ~~MATERNITY LEAVE 3~~,000,000 33
78		-	(34) ~~MERIT~~ TEACHER ~~INCENTIVE 10~~,000,000 34
79		-	(35) ~~MINIMUM TEACHER SALARY AND RAISES 190~~,~~000~~,000 35
80		-	(36) ~~NATIONAL BOARD OF PROF TEACHING STANDARDS 18,738~~,000 36 ~~As Engrossed: H3/18/25~~ HB1206
	64	+	(25) ESA MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM 5,300,000 24
	65	+	(26) GIFTED & TALENTED 1,560,381 25
	66	+	(27) GRANTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS 67,856 26
	67	+	(28) HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CENTER EDUCATION AID 526,150 27
	68	+	(29) INTERVENTION BLOCK GRANTS 302,000 28
	69	+	(30) ISOLATED FUNDING 7,896,000 29
	70	+	(31) LEADERSHIP ACADEMY -MASTER PRINCIPAL 1,400,000 30
	71	+	(32) MASTER PRINCIPAL BONUS 175,000 31
	72	+	(33) MATERNITY LEAVE 3,000,000 32
	73	+	(34) MERIT TEACHER INCENTIVE 10,000,000 33
	74	+	(35) MINIMUM TEACHER SALARY AND RAISES 190,000,000 34
	75	+	(36) NATIONAL BOARD OF PROF TEACHING STANDARDS 18,738,000 35
	76	+	(37) NON-TRADITIONAL LICENSURE 50,000 36 HB1206
81	77
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	78	+	3 01/23/2025 8:43:00 AM KMW015
	79	+	(38) OE CHARTER FAC FUNDING AID PROGRAM 9,075,000 1
	80	+	(39) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING 37,175,911 2
	81	+	(40) PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEE INSURANCE 142,000,000 3
	82	+	(41) R.I.S.E. ARKANSAS 10,470,000 4
	83	+	(42) RESIDENTIAL CENTERS/JUVENILE DETENTION 16,345,087 5
	84	+	(43) SCHOOL FACILITY JOINT USE SUPPORT 500,000 6
	85	+	(44) SCHOOL FOOD SERVICES 7,650,000 7
	86	+	(45) SCHOOL FOOD-LEGISLATIVE AUDIT 75,000 8
	87	+	(46) SCHOOL FUNDING CONTINGENCY 25,000,000 9
	88	+	(47) SCHOOL RECOGNITION 7,000,000 10
	89	+	(48) SCHOOL WORKER DEFENSE 390,000 11
	90	+	(49) SERIOUS OFFENDER 1,716,859 12
	91	+	(50) SMART START/SMART STEP 10,666,303 13
	92	+	(51) SPECIAL EDUCATION - HIGH COST OCCURRENCES 17,498,150 14
	93	+	(52) SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES 2,802,527 15
	94	+	(53) SPECIAL NEEDS ISOLATED FUNDING 3,000,000 16
	95	+	(54) STATE FOUNDATION FUNDING 2,206,861,456 17
	96	+	(55) STUDENT GROWTH 37,690,144 18
	97	+	(56) SURPLUS COMMODITIES 1,125,065 19
	98	+	(57) TEACHER LICENSING/MENTORING 6,065,758 20
	99	+	(58) TEACHER OF THE YEAR 100,000 21
	100	+	(59) TEACHER RETIREMENT MATCHING 14,776,754 22
	101	+	(60) TEACHER SALARY EQUALIZATION 60,000,000 23
	102	+	(61) TECHNOLOGY GRANTS 3,602,678 24
	103	+	(62) TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS 500,000 25
	104	+	(63) TRANSPORTATION MODERNIZATION GRANTS 5,000,000 26
	105	+	(64) WORKER'S COMPENSATION 450,000 27
	106	+	(65) YOUTH SHELTERS 165,000 28
	107	+	TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $3,454,041,080 29
	108	+	30
	109	+	SECTION 2. REGULAR SALARIES - ARKANSAS PUBLIC SCHOOL COMPUTER NETWORK . 31
	110	+	There is hereby established for the Department of Education - Division of 32
	111	+	Elementary and Secondary Education - Arkansas Public School Computer Network 33
	112	+	for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the following maximum number of regular 34
	113	+	employees. 35
	114	+	36 HB1206
83	115
	116	+	4 01/23/2025 8:43:00 AM KMW015
	117	+	Maximum Annual 1
	118	+	Maximum Salary Rate 2
	119	+	Item Class No. of Fiscal Year 3
	120	+	No. Code Title Employees 2025-2026 4
	121	+	(1) D105C ADE STATE NETWORK ENGINEER 1 GRADE IT09 5
	122	+	(2) D022N IT SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER 1 GRADE IT09 6
	123	+	(3) D104C ADE STATE SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR 1 GRADE IT08 7
	124	+	(4) D007C INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGER 1 GRADE IT08 8
	125	+	(5) D042C DATA WAREHOUSE SPECIALIST 1 GRADE IT06 9
	126	+	(6) D037C ADE APSCN APPLICATIONS MANAGER 3 GRADE IT05 10
	127	+	(7) D063C COMPUTER SUPPORT SPECIALIST 1 GRADE IT05 11
	128	+	(8) D055C ADE APSCN FIELD ANALYST 25 GRADE IT04 12
	129	+	(9) D079C COMPUTER SUPPORT TECHNICIAN 1 GRADE IT02 13
	130	+	(10) N047N ADE APSCN DIRECTOR 1 GRADE GS15 14
	131	+	(11) G012C ADE ASSISTANT TO DIRECTOR 3 GRADE GS12 15
	132	+	(12) G050C ADE APSCN DIVISION MANAGER 3 GRADE GS10 16
	133	+	(13) C020C STUDENT APPLICATIONS SPECIALIST 2 GRADE GS06 17
	134	+	(14) C056C ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST III 1 GRADE GS04 18
	135	+	MAX. NO. OF EMPLOYEES 45 19
	136	+	20
	137	+	SECTION 3. APPROPRIATION - ARKANSAS PUBLIC SCHOOL COMPUTER NETWORK . 21
	138	+	There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Education , to be payable 22
	139	+	from the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Public School Fund 23
	140	+	Account, for personal services and operating expenses of the Department of 24
	141	+	Education - Division of Elementary and Secondary Education - Arkansas Public 25
	142	+	School Computer Network for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the 26
	143	+	following: 27
	144	+	28
	145	+	ITEM FISCAL YEAR 29
	146	+	NO. 2025-2026 30
	147	+	(01) REGULAR SALARIES $2,629,680 31
	148	+	(02) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 945,587 32
	149	+	(03) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 33
	150	+	(A) OPER. EXPENSE 25,245,839 34
	151	+	(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 7,250 35
	152	+	(C) PROF. FEES 0 36 HB1206
84	153
85		-	(37) NON-TRADITIONAL LICENSURE 50,000 1
86		-	(38) OE CHARTER FAC FUNDING AID PROGRAM 10,275,000 2
87		-	(39) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING 37,175,911 3
88		-	(40) PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEE INSURANCE 142,000,000 4
89		-	(41) R.I.S.E. ARKANSAS 10,470,000 5
90		-	(42) RESIDENTIAL CENTERS/JUVENILE DETENTION 16,345,087 6
91		-	(43) SCHOOL FACILITY JOINT USE SUPPORT 500,000 7
92		-	(44) SCHOOL FOOD SERVICES 7,650,000 8
93		-	(45) SCHOOL FOOD-LEGISLATIVE AUDIT 75,000 9
94		-	(46) SCHOOL FUNDING CONTINGENCY 25,000,000 10
95		-	(47) SCHOOL RECOGNITION 7,000,000 11
96		-	(48) SCHOOL WORKER DEFENSE 390,000 12
97		-	(49) SERIOUS OFFENDER 1,716,859 13
98		-	(50) SMART START/SMART STEP 10,666,303 14
99		-	(51) SPECIAL EDUCATION - HIGH COST OCCURRENCES 17,934,000 15
100		-	(52) SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES 2,802,527 16
101		-	(53) SPECIAL NEEDS ISOLATED FUNDING 3,000,000 17
102		-	(54) STATE FOUNDATION FUNDING 2,206,861,456 18
103		-	(55) STUDENT GROWTH 37,690,144 19
104		-	(56) SURPLUS COMMODITIES 1,125,065 20
105		-	(57) TEACHER LICENSING/MENTORING 6,065,758 21
106		-	(58) TEACHER OF THE YEAR 100,000 22
107		-	(59) TEACHER RETIREMENT MATCHING 14,776,754 23
108		-	(60) TEACHER SALARY EQUALIZATION 60,000,000 24
109		-	(61) TECHNOLOGY GRANTS 3,602,678 25
110		-	(62) TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS 500,000 26
111		-	(63) TRANSPORTATION MODERNIZATION GRANTS 5,000,000 27
112		-	(64) WORKER'S COMPENSATION 450,000 28
113		-	(65) YOUTH SHELTERS 165,000 29
114		-	TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $3,480,713,330 30
115		-	31
116		-	SECTION 2. REGULAR SALARIES - ARKANSAS PUBLIC SCHOOL COMPUTER NETWORK. 32
117		-	There is hereby established for the Department of Education - Division of 33
118		-	Elementary and Secondary Education - Arkansas Public School Computer Network 34
119		-	for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the following maximum number of regular 35
120		-	employees. 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
	154	+	5 01/23/2025 8:43:00 AM KMW015
	155	+	(D) CAP. OUTLAY 200,000 1
	156	+	(E) DATA PROC. 0 2
	157	+	(04) DATA ACCESS IMPLEMENTATION 300,000 3
	158	+	TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $29,328,356 4
	159	+	5
	160	+	SECTION 4. REGULAR SALARIES - OFFICE OF EDUCATION RENEWAL ZONES . There 6
	161	+	is hereby established for the Department of Education - Division of 7
	162	+	Elementary and Secondary Education - Office of Education Renewal Zones for 8
	163	+	the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the following maximum number of regular employees. 9
	164	+	10
	165	+	Maximum Annual 11
	166	+	Maximum Salary Rate 12
	167	+	Item Class No. of Fiscal Year 13
	168	+	No. Code Title Employees 2025-2026 14
	169	+	(1) E020C ADE OERZ TECHNICAL ASSIST SPECIALIST 3 GRADE GS08 15
	170	+	(2) C056C ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST III 1 GRADE GS04 16
	171	+	MAX. NO. OF EMPLOYEES 4 17
	172	+	18
	173	+	SECTION 5. APPROPRIATION - OFFICE OF EDUCATION RENEWAL ZONES . There is 19
	174	+	hereby appropriated, to the Department of Education , to be payable from the 20
	175	+	Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Public School Fund Account , 21
	176	+	for personal services, operating expenses, and grants by the Department of 22
	177	+	Education - Division of Elementary and Secondary Education - Office of 23
	178	+	Education Renewal Zones for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the 24
	179	+	following: 25
	180	+	26
	181	+	ITEM FISCAL YEAR 27
	182	+	NO. 2025-2026 28
	183	+	(01) REGULAR SALARIES $145,568 29
	184	+	(02) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 58,129 30
	185	+	(03) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 31
	186	+	(A) OPER. EXPENSE 25,000 32
	187	+	(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 3,000 33
	188	+	(C) PROF. FEES 0 34
	189	+	(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 35
	190	+	(E) DATA PROC. 0 36 HB1206
121	191
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	192	+	6 01/23/2025 8:43:00 AM KMW015
	193	+	(04) EDUCATIONAL RENEWAL ZONE GRANTS 1,101,150 1
	194	+	TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $1,332,847 2
	195	+	3
	196	+	SECTION 6. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 4
	197	+	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 5
	198	+	FUND ALLOCATION. The appropriation for the Isolated Funding line item in the 6
	199	+	Grants and Aid to Local School Districts and Special Programs section of this 7
	200	+	Act may be fully funded. Any funding and appropriation for Isolated Funding 8
	201	+	that is not utilized shall be transferred to the appropriation for Special 9
	202	+	Needs Isolated Funding in the Grants and Aid to Local School Districts and 10
	203	+	Special Programs section of this Act and shall be used there for fully 11
	204	+	funding each subsection (c) through (f) of Arkansas Code § 6 -20-604 on a pro 12
	205	+	rata basis until the available funds are exhausted. Pro rata basis is defined 13
	206	+	as providing each district qualifying for additional funding under 14
	207	+	subsections (c) through (f) a proportionate share based on how each 15
	208	+	district's additional funding amount bears to the total additional funding 16
	209	+	amounts for all qualifying districts. If any funding and appropriation 17
	210	+	remains after funding each subsection (c) through (f) of Arkansas Code § 6 -18
	211	+	20-604 the remaining balance shall be used to fund the provisions of Arkansas 19
	212	+	Code § 6-20-604 (h) on an equal basis until the available funds are 20
	213	+	exhausted. 21
	214	+	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 22
	215	+	2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 23
	216	+	24
	217	+	SECTION 7. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 25
	218	+	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 26
	219	+	GRANTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS. For the purposes of distributing the Grants To 27
	220	+	School Districts appropriation in the Grants and Aid to Local School 28
	221	+	Districts and Special Programs section of this Act, "school district" means a 29
	222	+	school district which contracts with a school district in an adjoining state 30
	223	+	for the education of some of the pupils within the Arkansas school district 31
	224	+	because the portion of the school district wherein such pupils live is 32
	225	+	completely separated from the remainder of the school district by a reservoir 33
	226	+	covering at least 12,000 acres at normal water level, and where to attend 34
	227	+	school in their own district, the pupils of said portion would be required to 35
	228	+	travel or to be transported a distance (measured by the nearest highway or 36 HB1206
123	229
	230	+	7 01/23/2025 8:43:00 AM KMW015
	231	+	road route) of more than 35 miles round trip and pass through another school 1
	232	+	district or districts. The Department of Education shall distribute the 2
	233	+	monies appropriated for Grants to School Districts in the Grants and Aid to 3
	234	+	Local School Districts and Special Programs section of this Act to such 4
	235	+	school districts as reimbursement for expenses incurred in educating the 5
	236	+	pupils residing in the separated portion of the school district. The payments 6
	237	+	are to be limited to the amount of available appropriation. Such school 7
	238	+	districts shall file a request for reimbursement with the Department of 8
	239	+	Education and provide the Department of Education with such documentation as 9
	240	+	is deemed necessary. 10
	241	+	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 11
	242	+	2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 12
	243	+	13
	244	+	SECTION 8. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 14
	245	+	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 15
	246	+	SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES. The funds appropriated in the line item "Special 16
	247	+	Education Services" in the Grants and Aid to Local School Districts and 17
	248	+	Special Programs section of this Act shall be used to provide extended year 18
	249	+	summer programs for handicapped students in need of such services, to provide 19
	250	+	special education services to foster children who are wards of the State, and 20
	251	+	to provide funds for the payment of salaries of special education 21
	252	+	supervisors. The Department of Education shall distribute such funds in the 22
	253	+	manner necessary to carry out the intent of this Section. 23
	254	+	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 24
	255	+	2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 25
	256	+	26
	257	+	SECTION 9. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 27
	258	+	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 28
	259	+	TRANSFER AUTHORITY. The Commissioner of the Department of Education, with the 29
	260	+	approval of the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State and after approval by the 30
	261	+	Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee, is hereby authorized 31
	262	+	to request necessary appropriation transfers and any other budget related 32
	263	+	adjustments necessary within the Department of Education. Provided, however, 33
	264	+	that the Department of Education shall be limited to submitting no more than 34
	265	+	two transfer requests during any fiscal year. 35
	266	+	Determining the maximum number of employees and the maximum amount of 36 HB1206
124	267
125		-	1
126		-	Maximum Annual 2
127		-	Maximum Salary Rate 3
128		-	Item Class No. of Fiscal Year 4
129		-	No. Code Title Employees 2025 -2026 5
130		-	(1) D105C ADE STATE NETWORK ENGINEER 1 GRADE IT09 6
131		-	(2) D022N IT SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER 1 GRADE IT09 7
132		-	(3) D104C ADE STATE SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR 1 GRADE IT08 8
133		-	(4) D007C INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGER 1 GRADE IT08 9
134		-	(5) D042C DATA WAREHOUSE SPECIALIST 1 GRADE IT06 10
135		-	(6) D037C ADE APSCN APPLICATIONS MANAGER 3 GRADE IT05 11
136		-	(7) D063C COMPUTER SUPPORT SPECIALIST 1 GRADE IT05 12
137		-	(8) D055C ADE APSCN FIELD ANALYST 25 GRADE IT04 13
138		-	(9) D079C COMPUTER SUPPORT TECHNICIAN 1 GRADE IT02 14
139		-	(10) N047N ADE APSCN DIRECTOR 1 GRADE GS15 15
140		-	(11) G012C ADE ASSISTANT TO DIRECTOR 3 GRADE GS12 16
141		-	(12) G050C ADE APSCN DIVISION MANAGER 3 GRADE GS10 17
142		-	(13) C020C STUDENT APPLICATIONS SPECIALIST 2 GRADE GS06 18
143		-	(14) C056C ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST III 1 GRADE GS04 19
144		-	MAX. NO. OF EMPLOYEES 45 20
145		-	21
146		-	SECTION 3. APPROPRIATION - ARKANSAS PUBLIC SCHOOL COMPUTER NETWORK. 22
147		-	There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Education, to be payable 23
148		-	from the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Public School Fund 24
149		-	Account, for personal services and operating expenses of the Department of 25
150		-	Education - Division of Elementary and Secondary Education - Arkansas Public 26
151		-	School Computer Network for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the 27
152		-	following: 28
	268	+	8 01/23/2025 8:43:00 AM KMW015
	269	+	appropriation and general revenue funding for a state agency each fiscal year 1
	270	+	is the prerogative of the General Assembly. This is usually accomplished by 2
	271	+	delineating such maximums in the appropriation act(s) for a state agency and 3
	272	+	the general revenue allocations authorized for each fund and fund account by 4
	273	+	amendment to the Revenue Stabilization law. Further, the General Assembly 5
	274	+	has determined that the Department of Education may operate more efficiently 6
	275	+	if some flexibility is provided to the Commissioner of the Department of 7
	276	+	Education authorizing broad powers under the Transfer Authority provision 8
	277	+	herein. Therefore, it is both necessary and appropriate that the General 9
	278	+	Assembly maintain oversight by requiring prior approval of the Legislative 10
	279	+	Council or Joint Budget Committee as provided by this section. The 11
	280	+	requirement of approval by the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee 12
	281	+	is not a severable part of this section. If the requirement of approval by 13
	282	+	the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee is ruled unconstitutional 14
	283	+	by a court jurisdiction, this entire section is void. 15
	284	+	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 16
	285	+	2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 17
	286	+	18
	287	+	SECTION 10. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 19
	288	+	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 20
	289	+	AETN DOCUMENTED QUIZ BOWL COSTS. Of the total amount of appropriation and 21
	290	+	funds authorized herein to the Department of Education for the Quiz Bowl each 22
	291	+	fiscal year, an amount not to exceed forty thousand dollars ($40,000) each 23
	292	+	fiscal year may be made available to the Department of Education - 24
	293	+	Educational Television Division for its documented costs associated with the 25
	294	+	Quiz Bowl. 26
	295	+	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 27
	296	+	2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 28
153	297		29
154		-	~~ITEM FISCAL YEAR~~ 30
155		-	NO. ~~2025 -2026~~ 31
156		-	~~(01) REGULAR SALARIES $2,629,680~~ 32
157		-	~~(02) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 945,587~~ 33
158		-	~~(03) MAINT.~~ ~~& GEN.~~ ~~OPERATION~~ 34
159		-	~~(A) OPER~~. ~~EXPENSE 29,245,839~~ 35
160		-	~~(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 7,250 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25~~ HB1206
	298	+	SECTION 11. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 30
	299	+	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 31
	300	+	RETIREMENT MATCHING. Beginning with the 1996 -97 school year, Local School 32
	301	+	Districts shall pay the teacher retirement employer contribution rate for any 33
	302	+	eligible employee in accordance with rules and regulations established by the 34
	303	+	Teacher Retirement Board of Directors. The appropriation contained herein for 35
	304	+	Teacher Retirement Matching each fiscal year shall be used to provide the 36 HB1206
161	305
162		-	5 03-18-2025 16:56:36 KMW015
	306	+	9 01/23/2025 8:43:00 AM KMW015
	307	+	employer matching for employees of the Cooperative Education Services Areas, 1
	308	+	Vocational Centers, Arkansas Easter Seals and the school operated by the 2
	309	+	Department of Correction. 3
	310	+	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 4
	311	+	2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 5
	312	+	6
	313	+	SECTION 12. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 7
	314	+	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 8
	315	+	BETTER CHANCE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATIVE FEES. The Department of Education is 9
	316	+	hereby authorized to expend a maximum of two percent (2%) of available funds 10
	317	+	for administration of the Better Chance Program. Up to 1.8% of available 11
	318	+	funds shall be used to administer the program and to monitor program grantees 12
	319	+	to ensure compliance with programmatic standards. Prior to the utilization of 13
	320	+	the remaining 0.2% of available funds, the Department of Education shall seek 14
	321	+	prior review and approval of the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget 15
	322	+	Committee by providing a written request to include the following: a) the 16
	323	+	Department's reason(s) for the use of the funds and b) the amount of funds 17
	324	+	that will be expended. The Department may contract with the Division of 18
	325	+	Elementary and Secondary Education to administer the program. 19
	326	+	Determining the maximum number of employees and the maximum amount of 20
	327	+	appropriation and general revenue funding for a state agency each fiscal year 21
	328	+	is the prerogative of the General Assembly. This is usually accomplished by 22
	329	+	delineating such maximums in the appropriation act(s) for a state agency and 23
	330	+	the general revenue allocations authorized for each fund and fund account by 24
	331	+	amendment to the Revenue Stabilization law. Therefore, it is both necessary 25
	332	+	and appropriate that the General Assembly maintain oversight by requiring 26
	333	+	prior approval of the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee as 27
	334	+	provided by this section. The requirement of approval by the Legislative 28
	335	+	Council or Joint Budget Committee is not a severable part of this section. 29
	336	+	If the requirement of approval by the Legislative Council or Joint Budget 30
	337	+	Committee is ruled unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, 31
	338	+	this entire section is void. 32
	339	+	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 33
	340	+	2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 34
	341	+	35
	342	+	SECTION 13. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 36 HB1206
163	343
	344	+	10 01/23/2025 8:43:00 AM KMW015
	345	+	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 1
	346	+	CARRY FORWARD - ARKANSAS BETTER CHANCE. Any unexpended balance of monies 2
	347	+	allocated for the Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Program remaining 3
	348	+	on June 30, 2025 2026, in the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education 4
	349	+	Public School Fund Account shall be designated and retained for the Arkansas 5
	350	+	Better Chance for School Success Program. 6
	351	+	Any carry forward of unexpended balance of funding as authorized herein, 7
	352	+	may be carried forward under the following conditions: 8
	353	+	(1) Prior to June 30, 2025 2026 the Agency shall by written statement set 9
	354	+	forth its reason(s) for the need to carry forward said funding to the 10
	355	+	Department of Finance and Administration Office of Budget; 11
	356	+	(2) The Department of Finance and Administration Office of Budget shall 12
	357	+	report to the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee all 13
	358	+	amounts carried forward by the September Arkansas Legislative Council or 14
	359	+	Joint Budget Committee meeting which report shall include the name of the 15
	360	+	Agency, Board, Commission or Institution and the amount of the funding 16
	361	+	carried forward, the program name or line item, the funding source of that 17
	362	+	appropriation and a copy of the written request set forth in (1) above; 18
	363	+	(3) Each Agency, Board, Commission or Institution shall provide a written 19
	364	+	report to the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee 20
	365	+	containing all information set forth in item (2) above, along with a written 21
	366	+	statement as to the current status of the project, contract, purpose etc. for 22
	367	+	which the carry forward was originally requested no later than thirty (30) 23
	368	+	days prior to the time the Agency, Board, Commission or Institution presents 24
	369	+	its budget request to the Arkansas Legislative Council/Joint Budget 25
	370	+	Committee; and 26
	371	+	(4) Thereupon, the Department of Finance and Administration shall include 27
	372	+	all information obtained in item (3) above in the budget manuals and/or a 28
	373	+	statement of non-compliance by the Agency, Board, Commission or Institution. 29
	374	+	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 30
	375	+	2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 31
	376	+	32
	377	+	SECTION 14. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 33
	378	+	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 34
	379	+	ARKANSAS/STRIVE PROGRAM TRANSFER. The Chief Fiscal Officer of the State 35
	380	+	shall transfer on his books and those of the State Treasurer and the State 36 HB1206
164	381
165		-	(C) PROF. FEES 0 1
166		-	(D) CAP. OUTLAY 200,000 2
167		-	(E) DATA PROC. 0 3
168		-	(04) DATA ACCESS IMPLEMENTATION 300,000 4
169		-	TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $33,328,356 5
	382	+	11 01/23/2025 8:43:00 AM KMW015
	383	+	Auditor, the sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) during each 1
	384	+	fiscal year from the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Public 2
	385	+	School Fund Account to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Fund, 3
	386	+	specifically to provide funding for the Arkansas/STRIVE Program. The total 4
	387	+	amount of funds transferred each fiscal year pursuant to this section shall 5
	388	+	not be subject to any indirect costs by the University of Arkansas at Little 6
	389	+	Rock. 7
	390	+	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 8
	391	+	2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 9
	392	+	10
	393	+	SECTION 15. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 11
	394	+	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 12
	395	+	ARKANSAS GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL FUNDING. The Department of Education shall 13
	396	+	allocate, budget and commit for expenditure two hundred fifty thousand 14
	397	+	dollars ($250,000), in addition to funds already being provided for the 15
	398	+	Arkansas Governor’s School, to fund the appropriation authorized from general 16
	399	+	revenue for the Gifted and Talented program as appropriated in the Grants and 17
	400	+	Aid to Local School Districts and Special Programs section herein. With this 18
	401	+	additional funding either the department shall increase the number of grants 19
	402	+	for AEGIS summer enrichment programs, or the duration of the Arkansas 20
	403	+	Governor’s School shall be extended from four (4) weeks to six (6) weeks. 21
	404	+	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 22
	405	+	2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 23
	406	+	24
	407	+	SECTION 16. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 25
	408	+	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 26
	409	+	EAST FUNDING PROVISION. Of the total amount appropriated for Technology 27
	410	+	Grants each fiscal year, an amount of not less than three million five 28
	411	+	thousand dollars ($3,005,000) or eighteen percent (18%), whichever is greater 29
	412	+	each fiscal year, shall be awarded through a grant or professional services 30
	413	+	contract for the EAST Initiative. Not less than one million dollars 31
	414	+	($1,000,000) of the three million five thousand dollars ($3,005,000) or 32
	415	+	eighteen percent (18%) of the Technology Grants Line Item awarded to the EAST 33
	416	+	Initiatives shall be used for EAST infrastructure and personnel growth for 34
	417	+	the establishment of new programs. The remaining funding shall be used for 35
	418	+	existing EAST infrastructure, personnel, and operating expenses of the EAST 36 HB1206
	419	+
	420	+	12 01/23/2025 8:43:00 AM KMW015
	421	+	Initiative. The EAST infrastructure grant or contract for personal services 1
	422	+	and operating expenses shall be awarded to an entity that has personnel or 2
	423	+	experience, or both, in implementing the EAST Initiative. 3
	424	+	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 4
	425	+	2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 5
170	426		6
171		-	SECTION 4. REGULAR SALARIES - OFFICE OF EDUCATION RENEWAL ZONES. There 7
172		-	is hereby established for the Department of Education - Division of 8
173		-	Elementary and Secondary Education - Office of Education Renewal Zones for 9
174		-	the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the following maximum number of regular employees. 10
175		-	11
176		-	Maximum Annual 12
177		-	Maximum Salary Rate 13
178		-	Item Class No. of Fiscal Year 14
179		-	No. Code Title Employees 2025 -2026 15
180		-	(1) E020C ADE OERZ TECHNICAL ASSIST SPECIALIST 3 GRADE GS08 16
181		-	(2) C056C ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST III 1 GRADE GS04 17
182		-	MAX. NO. OF EMPLOYEES 4 18
183		-	19
184		-	SECTION 5. APPROPRIATION - OFFICE OF EDUCATION RENEWAL ZONES. There is 20
185		-	hereby appropriated, to the Department of Education, to be payable from the 21
186		-	Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Public School Fund Account, 22
187		-	for personal services, operating expenses, and grants by the Department of 23
188		-	Education - Division of Elementary and Secondary Education - Office of 24
189		-	Education Renewal Zones for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the 25
190		-	following: 26
191		-	27
192		-	ITEM FISCAL YEAR 28
193		-	NO. 2025 -2026 29
194		-	(01) REGULAR SALARIES $145,568 30
195		-	(02) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 58,129 31
196		-	(03) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 32
197		-	(A) OPER. EXPENSE 25,000 33
198		-	(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 3,000 34
199		-	(C) PROF. FEES 0 35
200		-	(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
201		-
202		-	6 03-18-2025 16:56:36 KMW015
203		-
204		-
205		-	(E) DATA PROC. 0 1
206		-	(04) EDUCATIONAL RENEWAL ZONE GRANTS 1,101,150 2
207		-	TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $1,332,847 3
208		-	4
209		-	SECTION 6. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 5
210		-	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 6
211		-	FUND ALLOCATION. The appropriation for the Isolated Funding line item in the 7
212		-	Grants and Aid to Local School Districts and Special Programs section of this 8
213		-	Act may be fully funded. Any funding and appropriation for Isolated Funding 9
214		-	that is not utilized shall be transferred to the appropriation for Special 10
215		-	Needs Isolated Funding in the Grants and Aid to Local School Districts and 11
216		-	Special Programs section of this Act and shall be used there for fully 12
217		-	funding each subsection (c) through (f) of Arkansas Code § 6 -20-604 on a pro 13
218		-	rata basis until the available funds are exhausted. Pro rata basis is defined 14
219		-	as providing each district qualifying for additional funding under 15
220		-	subsections (c) through (f) a proportionate share based on how each 16
221		-	district's additional funding amount bears to the total additional funding 17
222		-	amounts for all qualifying districts. If any funding and appropriation 18
223		-	remains after funding each subsection (c) through (f) of Arkansas Code § 6 -19
224		-	20-604 the remaining balance shall be used to fund the provisions of Arkansas 20
225		-	Code § 6-20-604 (h) on an equal basis until the available funds are 21
226		-	exhausted. 22
227		-	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 23
228		-	2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 24
229		-	25
230		-	SECTION 7. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 26
231		-	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 27
232		-	GRANTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS. For the purposes of distributing the Grants To 28
233		-	School Districts appropriation in the Grants and Aid to Local School 29
234		-	Districts and Special Programs section of this Act, "school district" means a 30
235		-	school district which contracts with a school district in an adjoining state 31
236		-	for the education of some of the pupils within the Arkansas school district 32
237		-	because the portion of the school district wherein such pupils live is 33
238		-	completely separated from the remainder of the school district by a reservoir 34
239		-	covering at least 12,000 acres at normal water level, and where to attend 35
240		-	school in their own district, the pupils of said portion would be required to 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
241		-
242		-	7 03-18-2025 16:56:36 KMW015
243		-
244		-
245		-	travel or to be transported a distance (measured by the nearest highway or 1
246		-	road route) of more than 35 miles round trip and pass through another school 2
247		-	district or districts. The Department of Education shall distribute the 3
248		-	monies appropriated for Grants to School Districts in the Grants and Aid to 4
249		-	Local School Districts and Special Programs section of this Act to such 5
250		-	school districts as reimbursement for expenses incurred in educating the 6
251		-	pupils residing in the separated portion of the school district. The payments 7
252		-	are to be limited to the amount of available appropriation. Such school 8
253		-	districts shall file a request for reimbursement with the Department of 9
254		-	Education and provide the Department of Education with such documentation as 10
255		-	is deemed necessary. 11
256		-	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 12
257		-	2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 13
258		-	14
259		-	SECTION 8. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 15
260		-	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 16
261		-	SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES. The funds appropriated in the line item "Special 17
262		-	Education Services" in the Grants and Aid to Local School Districts and 18
263		-	Special Programs section of this Act shall be used to provide extended year 19
264		-	summer programs for handicapped students in need of such services, to provide 20
265		-	special education services to foster children who are wards of the State, and 21
266		-	to provide funds for the payment of salaries of special education 22
267		-	supervisors. The Department of Education shall distribute such funds in the 23
268		-	manner necessary to carry out the intent of this Section. 24
269		-	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 25
270		-	2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 26
271		-	27
272		-	SECTION 9. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 28
273		-	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 29
274		-	TRANSFER AUTHORITY. The Commissioner of the Department of Education, with the 30
275		-	approval of the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State and after approval by the 31
276		-	Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee, is hereby authorized 32
277		-	to request necessary appropriation transfers and any other budget related 33
278		-	adjustments necessary within the Department of Education. Provided, however, 34
279		-	that the Department of Education shall be limited to submitting no more than 35
280		-	two transfer requests during any fiscal year. 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
281		-
282		-	8 03-18-2025 16:56:36 KMW015
283		-
284		-
285		-	Determining the maximum number of employees and the maximum amount of 1
286		-	appropriation and general revenue funding for a state agency each fiscal year 2
287		-	is the prerogative of the General Assembly. This is usually accomplished by 3
288		-	delineating such maximums in the appropriation act(s) for a state agency and 4
289		-	the general revenue allocations authorized for each fund and fund account by 5
290		-	amendment to the Revenue Stabilization law. Further, the General Assembly 6
291		-	has determined that the Department of Education may operate more efficiently 7
292		-	if some flexibility is provided to the Commissioner of the Department of 8
293		-	Education authorizing broad powers under the Transfer Authority provision 9
294		-	herein. Therefore, it is both necessary and appropriate that the General 10
295		-	Assembly maintain oversight by requiring prior approval of the Legislative 11
296		-	Council or Joint Budget Committee as provided by this section. The 12
297		-	requirement of approval by the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee 13
298		-	is not a severable part of this section. If the requirement of approval by 14
299		-	the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee is ruled unconstitutional 15
300		-	by a court jurisdiction, this entire section is void. 16
301		-	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 17
302		-	2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 18
303		-	19
304		-	SECTION 10. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 20
305		-	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 21
306		-	AETN DOCUMENTED QUIZ BOWL COSTS. Of the total amount of appropriation and 22
307		-	funds authorized herein to the Department of Education for the Quiz Bowl each 23
308		-	fiscal year, an amount not to exceed forty thousand dollars ($40,000) each 24
309		-	fiscal year may be made available to the Department of Education - 25
310		-	Educational Television Division for its documented costs associated with the 26
311		-	Quiz Bowl. 27
312		-	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 28
313		-	2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 29
314		-	30
315		-	SECTION 11. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 31
316		-	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 32
317		-	RETIREMENT MATCHING. Beginning with the 1996 -97 school year, Local School 33
318		-	Districts shall pay the teacher retirement employer contribution rate for any 34
319		-	eligible employee in accordance with rules and regulations established by the 35
320		-	Teacher Retirement Board of Directors. The appropriation contained herein for 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
321		-
322		-	9 03-18-2025 16:56:36 KMW015
323		-
324		-
325		-	Teacher Retirement Matching each fiscal year shall be used to provide the 1
326		-	employer matching for employees of the Cooperative Education Services Areas, 2
327		-	Vocational Centers, Arkansas Easter Seals and the school operated by the 3
328		-	Department of Correction. 4
329		-	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 5
330		-	2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 6
331		-	7
332		-	SECTION 12. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 8
333		-	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 9
334		-	BETTER CHANCE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATIVE FEES. The Department of Education is 10
335		-	hereby authorized to expend a maximum of two percent (2%) of available funds 11
336		-	for administration of the Better Chance Program. Up to 1.8% of available 12
337		-	funds shall be used to administer the program and to monitor program grantees 13
338		-	to ensure compliance with programmatic standards. Prior to the utilization of 14
339		-	the remaining 0.2% of available funds, the Department of Education shall seek 15
340		-	prior review and approval of the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget 16
341		-	Committee by providing a written request to include the following: a) the 17
342		-	Department's reason(s) for the use of the funds and b) the amount of funds 18
343		-	that will be expended. The Department may contract with the Division of 19
344		-	Elementary and Secondary Education to administer the program. 20
345		-	Determining the maximum number of employees and the maximum amount of 21
346		-	appropriation and general revenue funding for a state agency each fiscal year 22
347		-	is the prerogative of the General Assembly. This is usually accomplished by 23
348		-	delineating such maximums in the appropriation act(s) for a state agency and 24
349		-	the general revenue allocations authorized for each fund and fund account by 25
350		-	amendment to the Revenue Stabilization law. Therefore, it is both necessary 26
351		-	and appropriate that the General Assembly maintain oversight by requiring 27
352		-	prior approval of the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee as 28
353		-	provided by this section. The requirement of approval by the Legislative 29
354		-	Council or Joint Budget Committee is not a severable part of this section. 30
355		-	If the requirement of approval by the Legislative Council or Joint Budget 31
356		-	Committee is ruled unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, 32
357		-	this entire section is void. 33
358		-	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 34
359		-	2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 35
360		-	36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
361		-
362		-	10 03-18-2025 16:56:36 KMW015
363		-
364		-
365		-	SECTION 13. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 1
366		-	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 2
367		-	CARRY FORWARD - ARKANSAS BETTER CHANCE. Any unexpended balance of monies 3
368		-	allocated for the Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Program remaining 4
369		-	on June 30, 2025 2026, in the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education 5
370		-	Public School Fund Account shall be designated and retained for the Arkansas 6
371		-	Better Chance for School Success Program. 7
372		-	Any carry forward of unexpended balance of funding as authorized herein, 8
373		-	may be carried forward under the following conditions: 9
374		-	(1) Prior to June 30, 2025 2026 the Agency shall by written statement set 10
375		-	forth its reason(s) for the need to carry forward said funding to the 11
376		-	Department of Finance and Administration Office of Budget; 12
377		-	(2) The Department of Finance and Administration Office of Budget shall 13
378		-	report to the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee all 14
379		-	amounts carried forward by the September Arkansas Legislative Council or 15
380		-	Joint Budget Committee meeting which report shall include the name of the 16
381		-	Agency, Board, Commission or Institution and the amount of the funding 17
382		-	carried forward, the program name or line item, the funding source of that 18
383		-	appropriation and a copy of the written request set forth in (1) above; 19
384		-	(3) Each Agency, Board, Commission or Institution shall provide a written 20
385		-	report to the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee 21
386		-	containing all information set forth in item (2) above, along with a written 22
387		-	statement as to the current status of the project, contract, purpose etc. for 23
388		-	which the carry forward was originally requested no later than thirty (30) 24
389		-	days prior to the time the Agency, Board, Commission or Institution presents 25
390		-	its budget request to the Arkansas Legislative Council/Joint Budget 26
391		-	Committee; and 27
392		-	(4) Thereupon, the Department of Finance and Administration shall include 28
393		-	all information obtained in item (3) above in the budget manuals and/or a 29
394		-	statement of non-compliance by the Agency, Board, Commission or Institution. 30
	427	+	SECTION 17. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 7
	428	+	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 8
	429	+	INTERVENTION BLOCK GRANTS FUNDING RESTRICTION. The Department of Education 9
	430	+	shall make available from the Intervention Block Grants appropriation 10
	431	+	authorized by this Act, one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) each fiscal 11
	432	+	year for the annual expenses of the Quiz Bowl, thirteen thousand five hundred 12
	433	+	dollars ($13,500) each fiscal year for Creativity in Arkansas, Inc. for 13
	434	+	grants up to $1,000 each for students and chaperones, thirteen thousand five 14
	435	+	hundred dollars ($13,500) each fiscal year for Destination Imagination, one 15
	436	+	hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) each fiscal year for the State History 16
	437	+	Day Competition, and seventy -five thousand dollars ($75,000) each fiscal year 17
	438	+	for a grant to the Arkansas Science Fair Association for grants to regional 18
	439	+	and the state science fairs. The Department of Education shall allocate 19
	440	+	General Revenue funding totaling no less than three hundred two thousand 20
	441	+	dollars ($302,000) each fiscal year from the Division of Elementary and 21
	442	+	Secondary Education Public School Fund Account to support the annual expenses 22
	443	+	of the Quiz Bowl, the Creativity in Arkansas, Inc. for grants up to $1,000 23
	444	+	each for students and chaperones, Destination Imagination, the State History 24
	445	+	Day Competition, and the Arkansas Science Fair Association for grants to 25
	446	+	regional and state science fairs. The Department shall either expend or have 26
	447	+	committed for expenditure the monies allocated for the Quiz Bowl, Creativity 27
	448	+	in Arkansas, Inc., Destination Imagination, the State History Day 28
	449	+	Competition, and Arkansas Science Fair Association grants as authorized 29
	450	+	herein in order to fulfill the provisions of this section. 30
395	451		The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 31
396	452		2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 32
397	453		33
398		-	SECTION 14. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 34
	454	+	SECTION 18. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 34
399	455		CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 35
400		-	~~ARKANSAS/STRIVE PROGRAM TRANSFER~~. ~~The Chief Fiscal Officer of the State~~ 36 ~~As Engrossed: H3/18/25~~ HB1206
	456	+	PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. 36 HB1206
401	457
402		-	11 03-18-2025 16:56:36 KMW015
	458	+	13 01/23/2025 8:43:00 AM KMW015
	459	+	(a) Of the total amount appropriated for Professional Development 1
	460	+	Funding, three million five hundred thousand dollars ($3,500,000) may be 2
	461	+	authorized by the Commissioner of the Department of Education to be used by 3
	462	+	the Department of Education to develop and implement statewide professional 4
	463	+	development support systems for teachers that will benefit student 5
	464	+	achievement. 6
	465	+	(b)(1) The Department of Education shall annually report the following 7
	466	+	information concerning the Arkansas Online Professional Development 8
	467	+	Initiative under § 6 -17-707: 9
	468	+	(1) Annual expenditure information; 10
	469	+	(2) Statistical information pertaining to users of the 11
	470	+	initiative; 12
	471	+	(3) Course offerings; 13
	472	+	(4) Course hours completed; and 14
	473	+	(5) Certificates awarded. 15
	474	+	(2) The report under subsection (b)(1) of this section shall be 16
	475	+	annually submitted by August 1 to the: 17
	476	+	(1) Governor; 18
	477	+	(2) Legislative Council or, if the General Assembly is 19
	478	+	in session, the Joint Budget Committee; 20
	479	+	(3) Senate Committee on Education; 21
	480	+	(4) House Committee on Education; and 22
	481	+	(5) Department of Finance and Administration. 23
	482	+	(c) The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 24
	483	+	2024 2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 25
	484	+	26
	485	+	SECTION 19. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 27
	486	+	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 28
	487	+	ESA MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM. 29
	488	+	(a)(1) Of the appropriation and funding for the ESA MATCHING GRANT 30
	489	+	PROGRAM Item in the Grants and Aid to Local School Districts and Special 31
	490	+	Programs section of this Act, five million three hundred thousand dollars 32
	491	+	($5,300,000) shall be set aside by the Department of Education and shall be 33
	492	+	used for school district expenditures for evidence -based programs to improve 34
	493	+	academic achievement of identified national school lunch students. 35
	494	+	(2) These programs shall be limited to: 36 HB1206
403	495
	496	+	14 01/23/2025 8:43:00 AM KMW015
	497	+	(A) Tutors as set out in § 6 -20-2305(b)(4)(C)(i)(b)(4); 1
	498	+	(B) Before-school academic programs and after -school academic 2
	499	+	programs, including transportation to and from the programs 3
	500	+	under § 6-20-2305(b)(4)(C)(i)(b)(2); and 4
	501	+	(C) Prekindergarten programs under § 6 -20-2305(b)(4)(C)(i)(b)(3). 5
	502	+	(b)(1) Set aside funds authorized in subsection (a) of this section 6
	503	+	shall be distributed to school districts on a dollar for dollar matching 7
	504	+	basis of school district expenditures for programs under subsection (a) of 8
	505	+	this section on a pro rata basis until the available funds are exhausted. 9
	506	+	(2) As used in this subsection, "pro rata basis" means providing 10
	507	+	each district qualifying for additional funding in a proportionate share 11
	508	+	based on how each district's expenditure bears to the total of funding 12
	509	+	provided in subsection (a) of this section for all qualifying districts as 13
	510	+	determined by the Department of Education. 14
	511	+	(c) If any funding remains after funding subsection (b) of this 15
	512	+	section, that remaining balance shall be carried over to the following fiscal 16
	513	+	year for the same purposes as provided in this section. 17
	514	+	(d) The Department of Education shall adopt rules as necessary to 18
	515	+	implement this section. 19
	516	+	(e) The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 20
	517	+	2024 2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 21
	518	+	22
	519	+	SECTION 20. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 23
	520	+	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 24
	521	+	R.I.S.E. ARKANSAS. The appropriation for the R.I.S.E. Arkansas line item in 25
	522	+	the Grants and Aid to Local School Districts and Special Programs section of 26
	523	+	this Act shall be used for the coordination of a statewide reading campaign 27
	524	+	with community partners, parents, and teachers to establish the importance of 28
	525	+	reading in homes, schools, and communities. 29
	526	+	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 30
	527	+	2024 2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 31
	528	+	32
	529	+	SECTION 21. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 33
	530	+	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 34
	531	+	ENHANCED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT FUNDING NAME CHANGE. Any appropriation titled 35
	532	+	"ENHANCED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT FUNDING" or abbreviated as "ESA" as named by 36 HB1206
404	533
405		-	shall transfer on his books and those of the State Treasurer and the State 1
406		-	Auditor, the sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) during each 2
407		-	fiscal year from the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Public 3
408		-	School Fund Account to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Fund, 4
409		-	specifically to provide funding for the Arkansas/STRIVE Program. The total 5
410		-	amount of funds transferred each fiscal year pursuant to this section shall 6
411		-	not be subject to any indirect costs by the University of Arkansas at Little 7
412		-	Rock. 8
413		-	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 9
414		-	2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 10
	534	+	15 01/23/2025 8:43:00 AM KMW015
	535	+	SB605 of 2019 may also be known as "NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH" funding or 1
	536	+	abbreviated as "NSL" and shall be used for the same purposes as set out in 2
	537	+	law. 3
	538	+	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 4
	539	+	2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 5
	540	+	6
	541	+	SECTION 22. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 7
	542	+	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 8
	543	+	ARKANSAS GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL CURRICULUM. Prior to the beginning of the 9
	544	+	Arkansas Governor's School Program each year, the Arkansas Department of 10
	545	+	Education shall review and approve the proposed curriculum for the program 11
	546	+	year and shall maintain oversight of its implementation for consistency and 12
	547	+	accuracy. 13
	548	+	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 14
	549	+	2024 2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 15
	550	+	16
	551	+	SECTION 23. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 17
	552	+	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. HIGH 18
	553	+	QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS. Of the amount appropriated from the 19
	554	+	Division of Elementary and Secondary Education - Public School Fund for 20
	555	+	R.I.S.E. Arkansas, up to nine million five hundred thousand dollars 21
	556	+	($9,500,000) may be used for the purchase and distribution of high quality 22
	557	+	instructional materials in accordance with Arkansas Code § 6 -17-429(f). 23
	558	+	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 24
	559	+	2024 2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 25
	560	+	26
	561	+	SECTION 24. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 27
	562	+	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. DIVISION 28
	563	+	OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION PUBLIC SCHOOL FUND AND EDUCATIONAL 29
	564	+	ADEQUACY FUND DISTRIBUTION AND FUND BALANCE REPORT. (a) The Department of 30
	565	+	Education shall submit quarterly a "Division of Elementary and Secondary 31
	566	+	Education Public School Fund Distribution and Balance" report to the Arkansas 32
	567	+	Legislative Council PEER Subcommittee or, if meeting in a Legislative 33
	568	+	Session, the Joint Budget Committee PEER/Review Subcommittee no later than 34
	569	+	ten days prior to the Subcommittee's scheduled meeting date. 35
	570	+	(1) The report shall summarize the current total fund balance and 36 HB1206
	571	+
	572	+	16 01/23/2025 8:43:00 AM KMW015
	573	+	the past five Fiscal Year ending total fund balances of the Division of 1
	574	+	Elementary and Secondary Education - Public School Fund. 2
	575	+	(2) The report shall contain, cumulatively over the course of the 3
	576	+	fiscal year, by quarter a summary of the itemized totals distributed from 4
	577	+	each subfund of the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education - Public 5
	578	+	School Fund and each subfund shall be organized as restricted or unrestricted 6
	579	+	in spending purpose. 7
	580	+	(b) The Department of Education shall submit monthly an "Educational 8
	581	+	Adequacy Fund Distribution and Balance" report to the Arkansas Legislative 9
	582	+	Council PEER Subcommittee or, if meeting in a Legislative Session, the Joint 10
	583	+	Budget Committee PEER/Review Subcommittee no later than ten days prior to the 11
	584	+	Subcommittee's scheduled meeting date. 12
	585	+	(1) The report shall summarize the current total fund balance and 13
	586	+	the past five Fiscal Year ending total fund balances of the Educational 14
	587	+	Adequacy Fund. 15
	588	+	(2) The report shall contain the following: 16
	589	+	(A) Monthly beginning fund balance; 17
	590	+	(B) Monthly Distribution report with total distributions to 18
	591	+	the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Public 19
	592	+	School Fund Account and the Division of Elementary and 20
	593	+	Secondary Education Fund Account; and 21
	594	+	(C) Amount of certified funding obligation remaining to the 22
	595	+	Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Public 23
	596	+	School Fund Account and the Division of Elementary and 24
	597	+	Secondary Education Fund Account for the fiscal year. 25
	598	+	(c) The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 26
	599	+	2024 2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 27
	600	+	28
	601	+	SECTION 25. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS. Disbursement of funds 29
	602	+	authorized by this act shall be limited to the appropriation for such agency 30
	603	+	and funds made available by law for the support of such appropriations; and 31
	604	+	the restrictions of the State Procurement Law, the General Accounting and 32
	605	+	Budgetary Procedures Law, the Revenue Stabilization Law, the Regular Salary 33
	606	+	Procedures and Restrictions Act, or their successors, and other fiscal 34
	607	+	control laws of this State, where applicable, and regulations promulgated by 35
	608	+	the Department of Finance and Administration, as authorized by law, shall be 36 HB1206
	609	+
	610	+	17 01/23/2025 8:43:00 AM KMW015
	611	+	strictly complied with in disbursement of said funds. 1
	612	+	2
	613	+	SECTION 26. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the General 3
	614	+	Assembly that any funds disbursed under the authority of the appropriations 4
	615	+	contained in this act shall be in compliance with the stated reasons for 5
	616	+	which this act was adopted, as evidenced by the Agency Requests, Executive 6
	617	+	Recommendations and Legislative Recommendations contained in the budget 7
	618	+	manuals prepared by the Department of Finance and Administration, letters, or 8
	619	+	summarized oral testimony in the official minutes of the Arkansas Legislative 9
	620	+	Council or Joint Budget Committee which relate to its passage and adoption. 10
415	621		11
416		-	SECTION 15. ~~SPECIAL LANGUAGE~~. ~~NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO~~ THE ~~ARKANSAS~~ 12
417		-	~~CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL~~, ~~LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW.~~ 13
418		-	~~ARKANSAS GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL FUNDING.~~ The ~~Department of Education shall~~ 14
419		-	~~allocate~~, ~~budget and commit for expenditure two hundred fifty thousand~~ 15
420		-	~~dollars ($250,000),~~ in ~~addition to funds already being~~ provided ~~for the~~ 16
421		-	~~Arkansas Governor’s School,~~ ~~to fund~~ the ~~appropriation authorized from general~~ 17
422		-	~~revenue for the Gifted and Talented program as appropriated in the Grants and~~ 18
423		-	~~Aid to Local School Districts~~ and ~~Special Programs section herein. With this~~ 19
424		-	~~additional funding either the department shall increase the number of grants~~ 20
425		-	for ~~AEGIS summer enrichment programs, or~~ the ~~duration~~ of the ~~Arkansas~~ 21
426		-	~~Governor’s School~~ shall be ~~extended~~ from ~~four (4) weeks to six (6) weeks~~. 22
427		-	~~The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024~~ 23
428		-	~~2025 through June 30, 2025 2026.~~ 24
	622	+	SECTION 27. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. It is found and determined by the 12
	623	+	General Assembly, that the Constitution of the State of Arkansas prohibits 13
	624	+	the appropriation of funds for more than a one (1) year period; that the 14
	625	+	effectiveness of this Act on July 1, 2025 is essential to the operation of 15
	626	+	the agency for which the appropriations in this Act are provided, and that in 16
	627	+	the event of an extension of the legislative session, the delay in the 17
	628	+	effective date of this Act beyond July 1, 2025 could work irreparable harm 18
	629	+	upon the proper administration and provision of essential governmental 19
	630	+	programs. Therefore, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this Act 20
	631	+	being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health 21
	632	+	and safety shall be in full force and effect from and after July 1, 2025. 22
	633	+	23
	634	+	24
429	635		25
430		-	SECTION 16. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 26
431		-	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 27
432		-	EAST FUNDING PROVISION. Of the total amount appropriated for Technology 28
433		-	Grants each fiscal year, an amount of not less than three million five 29
434		-	thousand dollars ($3,005,000) or eighteen percent (18%), whichever is greater 30
435		-	each fiscal year, shall be awarded through a grant or professional services 31
436		-	contract for the EAST Initiative. Not less than one million dollars 32
437		-	($1,000,000) of the three million five thousand dollars ($3,005,000) or 33
438		-	eighteen percent (18%) of the Technology Grants Line Item awarded to the EAST 34
439		-	Initiatives shall be used for EAST infrastructure and personnel growth for 35
440		-	the establishment of new programs. The remaining funding shall be used for 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
441		-
442		-	12 03-18-2025 16:56:36 KMW015
443		-
444		-
445		-	existing EAST infrastructure, personnel, and operating expenses of the EAST 1
446		-	Initiative. The EAST infrastructure grant or contract for personal services 2
447		-	and operating expenses shall be awarded to an entity that has personnel or 3
448		-	experience, or both, in implementing the EAST Initiative. 4
449		-	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 5
450		-	2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 6
451		-	7
452		-	SECTION 17. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 8
453		-	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 9
454		-	INTERVENTION BLOCK GRANTS FUNDING RESTRICTION. The Department of Education 10
455		-	shall make available from the Intervention Block Grants appropriation 11
456		-	authorized by this Act, one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) each fiscal 12
457		-	year for the annual expenses of the Quiz Bowl, thirteen thousand five hundred 13
458		-	dollars ($13,500) each fiscal year for Creativity in Arkansas, Inc. for 14
459		-	grants up to $1,000 each for students and chaperones, thirteen thousand five 15
460		-	hundred dollars ($13,500) each fiscal year for Destination Imagination, one 16
461		-	hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) each fiscal year for the State History 17
462		-	Day Competition, and seventy -five thousand dollars ($75,000) each fiscal year 18
463		-	for a grant to the Arkansas Science Fair Association for grants to regional 19
464		-	and the state science fairs. The Department of Education shall allocate 20
465		-	General Revenue funding totaling no less than three hundred two thousand 21
466		-	dollars ($302,000) each fiscal year from the Division of Elementary and 22
467		-	Secondary Education Public School Fund Account to support the annual expenses 23
468		-	of the Quiz Bowl, the Creativity in Arkansas, Inc. for grants up to $1,000 24
469		-	each for students and chaperones, Destination Imagination, the State History 25
470		-	Day Competition, and the Arkansas Science Fair Association for grants to 26
471		-	regional and state science fairs. The Department shall either expend or have 27
472		-	committed for expenditure the monies allocated for the Quiz Bowl, Creativity 28
473		-	in Arkansas, Inc., Destination Imagination, the State History Day 29
474		-	Competition, and Arkansas Science Fair Association grants as authorized 30
475		-	herein in order to fulfill the provisions of this section. 31
476		-	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 32
477		-	2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 33
478		-	34
479		-	SECTION 18. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 35
480		-	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
481		-
482		-	13 03-18-2025 16:56:36 KMW015
483		-
484		-
485		-	PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. 1
486		-	(a) Of the total amount appropriated for Professional Development 2
487		-	Funding, three million five hundred thousand dollars ($3,500,000) may be 3
488		-	authorized by the Commissioner of the Department of Education to be used by 4
489		-	the Department of Education to develop and implement statewide professional 5
490		-	development support systems for teachers that will benefit student 6
491		-	achievement. 7
492		-	(b)(1) The Department of Education shall annually report the following 8
493		-	information concerning the Arkansas Online Professional Development 9
494		-	Initiative under § 6 -17-707: 10
495		-	(1) Annual expenditure information; 11
496		-	(2) Statistical information pertaining to users of the 12
497		-	initiative; 13
498		-	(3) Course offerings; 14
499		-	(4) Course hours completed; and 15
500		-	(5) Certificates awarded. 16
501		-	(2) The report under subsection (b)(1) of this section shall be 17
502		-	annually submitted by August 1 to the: 18
503		-	(1) Governor; 19
504		-	(2) Legislative Council or, if the General Assembly is 20
505		-	in session, the Joint Budget Committee; 21
506		-	(3) Senate Committee on Education; 22
507		-	(4) House Committee on Education; and 23
508		-	(5) Department of Finance and Administration. 24
509		-	(c) The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 25
510		-	2024 2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 26
511		-	27
512		-	SECTION 19. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 28
513		-	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 29
514		-	ESA MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM. 30
515		-	(a)(1) Of the appropriation and funding for the ESA MATCHING GRANT 31
516		-	PROGRAM Item in the Grants and Aid to Local School Districts and Special 32
517		-	Programs section of this Act, five million three hundred thousand dollars 33
518		-	($5,300,000) shall be set aside by the Department of Education and shall be 34
519		-	used for school district expenditures for evidence -based programs to improve 35
520		-	academic achievement of identified national school lunch students. 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
521		-
522		-	14 03-18-2025 16:56:36 KMW015
523		-
524		-
525		-	(2) These programs shall be limited to: 1
526		-	(A) Tutors as set out in § 6 -20-2305(b)(4)(C)(i)(b)(4); 2
527		-	(B) Before-school academic programs and after -school academic 3
528		-	programs, including transportation to and from the programs 4
529		-	under § 6-20-2305(b)(4)(C)(i)(b)(2); and 5
530		-	(C) Prekindergarten programs under § 6 -20-2305(b)(4)(C)(i)(b)(3). 6
531		-	(b)(1) Set aside funds authorized in subsection (a) of this section 7
532		-	shall be distributed to school districts on a dollar for dollar matching 8
533		-	basis of school district expenditures for programs under subsection (a) of 9
534		-	this section on a pro rata basis until the available funds are exhausted. 10
535		-	(2) As used in this subsection, "pro rata basis" means providing 11
536		-	each district qualifying for additional funding in a proportionate share 12
537		-	based on how each district's expenditure bears to the total of funding 13
538		-	provided in subsection (a) of this section for all qualifying districts as 14
539		-	determined by the Department of Education. 15
540		-	(c) If any funding remains after funding subsection (b) of this 16
541		-	section, that remaining balance shall be carried over to the following fiscal 17
542		-	year for the same purposes as provided in this section. 18
543		-	(d) The Department of Education shall adopt rules as necessary to 19
544		-	implement this section. 20
545		-	(e) The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 21
546		-	2024 2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 22
547		-	23
548		-	SECTION 20. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 24
549		-	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 25
550		-	R.I.S.E. ARKANSAS. The appropriation for the R.I.S.E. Arkansas line item in 26
551		-	the Grants and Aid to Local School Districts and Special Programs section of 27
552		-	this Act shall be used for the coordination of a statewide reading campaign 28
553		-	with community partners, parents, and teachers to establish the importance of 29
554		-	reading in homes, schools, and communities. 30
555		-	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 31
556		-	2024 2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 32
557		-	33
558		-	SECTION 21. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 34
559		-	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 35
560		-	ENHANCED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT FUNDING NAME CHANGE. Any appropriation titled 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
561		-
562		-	15 03-18-2025 16:56:36 KMW015
563		-
564		-
565		-	"ENHANCED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT FUNDING" or abbreviated as "ESA" as named by 1
566		-	SB605 of 2019 may also be known as "NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH" funding or 2
567		-	abbreviated as "NSL" and shall be used for the same purposes as set out in 3
568		-	law. 4
569		-	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2024 5
570		-	2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 6
571		-	7
572		-	SECTION 22. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 8
573		-	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 9
574		-	ARKANSAS GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL CURRICULUM. Prior to the beginning of the 10
575		-	Arkansas Governor's School Program each year, the Arkansas Department of 11
576		-	Education shall review and approve the proposed curriculum for the program 12
577		-	year and shall maintain oversight of its implementation for consistency and 13
578		-	accuracy. 14
579		-	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 15
580		-	2024 2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 16
581		-	17
582		-	SECTION 23. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 18
583		-	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. HIGH 19
584		-	QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS. Of the amount appropriated from the 20
585		-	Division of Elementary and Secondary Education - Public School Fund for 21
586		-	R.I.S.E. Arkansas, up to nine million five hundred thousand dollars 22
587		-	($9,500,000) may be used for the purchase and distribution of high quality 23
588		-	instructional materials in accordance with Arkansas Code § 6 -17-429(f). 24
589		-	The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 25
590		-	2024 2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 26
591		-	27
592		-	SECTION 24. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 28
593		-	CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. DIVISION 29
594		-	OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION PUBLIC SCHOOL FUND AND EDUCATIONAL 30
595		-	ADEQUACY FUND DISTRIBUTION AND FUND BALANCE REPORT. (a) The Department of 31
596		-	Education shall submit quarterly a "Division of Elementary and Secondary 32
597		-	Education Public School Fund Distribution and Balance" report to the Arkansas 33
598		-	Legislative Council PEER Subcommittee or, if meeting in a Legislative 34
599		-	Session, the Joint Budget Committee PEER/Review Subcommittee no later than 35
600		-	ten days prior to the Subcommittee's scheduled meeting date. 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
601		-
602		-	16 03-18-2025 16:56:36 KMW015
603		-
604		-
605		-	(1) The report shall summarize the current total fund balance and 1
606		-	the past five Fiscal Year ending total fund balances of the Division of 2
607		-	Elementary and Secondary Education - Public School Fund. 3
608		-	(2) The report shall contain, cumulatively over the course of the 4
609		-	fiscal year, by quarter a summary of the itemized totals distributed from 5
610		-	each subfund of the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education - Public 6
611		-	School Fund and each subfund shall be organized as restricted or unrestricted 7
612		-	in spending purpose. 8
613		-	(b) The Department of Education shall submit monthly an "Educational 9
614		-	Adequacy Fund Distribution and Balance" report to the Arkansas Legislative 10
615		-	Council PEER Subcommittee or, if meeting in a Legislative Session, the Joint 11
616		-	Budget Committee PEER/Review Subcommittee no later than ten days prior to the 12
617		-	Subcommittee's scheduled meeting date. 13
618		-	(1) The report shall summarize the current total fund balance and 14
619		-	the past five Fiscal Year ending total fund balances of the Educational 15
620		-	Adequacy Fund. 16
621		-	(2) The report shall contain the following: 17
622		-	(A) Monthly beginning fund balance; 18
623		-	(B) Monthly Distribution report with total distributions to 19
624		-	the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Public 20
625		-	School Fund Account and the Division of Elementary and 21
626		-	Secondary Education Fund Account; and 22
627		-	(C) Amount of certified funding obligation remaining to the 23
628		-	Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Public 24
629		-	School Fund Account and the Division of Elementary and 25
630		-	Secondary Education Fund Account for the fiscal year. 26
631		-	(c) The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 27
632		-	2024 2025 through June 30, 2025 2026. 28
633		-	29
634		-	SECTION 25. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS. Disbursement of funds 30
635		-	authorized by this act shall be limited to the appropriation for such agency 31
636		-	and funds made available by law for the support of such appropriations; and 32
637		-	the restrictions of the State Procurement Law, the General Accounting and 33
638		-	Budgetary Procedures Law, the Revenue Stabilization Law, the Regular Salary 34
639		-	Procedures and Restrictions Act, or their successors, and other fiscal 35
640		-	control laws of this State, where applicable, and regulations promulgated by 36 As Engrossed: H3/18/25 HB1206
641		-
642		-	17 03-18-2025 16:56:36 KMW015
643		-
644		-
645		-	the Department of Finance and Administration, as authorized by law, shall be 1
646		-	strictly complied with in disbursement of said funds. 2
647		-	3
648		-	SECTION 26. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the General 4
649		-	Assembly that any funds disbursed under the authority of the appropriations 5
650		-	contained in this act shall be in compliance with the stated reasons for 6
651		-	which this act was adopted, as evidenced by the Agency Requests, Executive 7
652		-	Recommendations and Legislative Recommendations contained in the budget 8
653		-	manuals prepared by the Department of Finance and Administration, letters, or 9
654		-	summarized oral testimony in the official minutes of the Arkansas Legislative 10
655		-	Council or Joint Budget Committee which relate to its passage and adoption. 11
656		-	12
657		-	SECTION 27. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. It is found and determined by the 13
658		-	General Assembly, that the Constitution of the State of Arkansas prohibits 14
659		-	the appropriation of funds for more than a one (1) year period; that the 15
660		-	effectiveness of this Act on July 1, 2025 is essential to the operation of 16
661		-	the agency for which the appropriations in this Act are provided, and that in 17
662		-	the event of an extension of the legislative session, the delay in the 18
663		-	effective date of this Act beyond July 1, 2025 could work irreparable harm 19
664		-	upon the proper administration and provision of essential governmental 20
665		-	programs. Therefore, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this Act 21
666		-	being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health 22
667		-	and safety shall be in full force and effect from and after July 1, 2025. 23
668		-	24
669		-	/s/Joint Budget Committee 25
670	636		26
671	637		27
672		-	~~APPROVED: 4/17/25~~ 28
	638	+	28
673	639		29
674	640		30
675	641		31
676	642		32
677	643		33
678	644		34
679	645		35
680	646		36