Arkansas House Bill HB1614

Arkansas 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/13/23
• Refer: 3/13/23

Caption

To Establish The Water And Sewer Treatment Facilities Grant Program; To Transfer Funding From The Securities Reserve Fund; And To Declare An Emergency.

Impact

The bill has significant implications for state law, particularly in how it addresses public health and safety concerning water and sewer treatment facilities. By providing funds for projects that maintain or improve water systems, the legislation directly aims to protect public health by addressing issues related to deteriorating infrastructure. As the commission will oversee grants, this centralizes and streamlines the process of securing state support for local improvements, which could enhance overall water quality and availability across Arkansas.

Summary

House Bill 1614 establishes the Water and Sewer Treatment Facilities Grant Program within the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission. The program aims to provide financial support to eligible water and sewer treatment facilities seeking grants for infrastructure and improvement projects. The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission will administer the grant program, which involves creating application forms, defining eligibility criteria, and executing legal agreements for grant disbursement. The funding will be managed through a special revenue fund authorized by the legislation, with an unlimited availability of transfer from the Securities Reserve Fund not exceeding $50 million each fiscal year.

Contention

While the bill seeks to enhance infrastructure for water systems, there may be points of contention regarding the allocation of funds and the processes involved in obtaining them. Concerns could arise about whether the eligibility criteria might be too restrictive or whether sufficient oversight exists for the grants awarded. Additionally, there may be discussions around the prioritization of which projects receive funding and how the effectiveness of funded projects is assessed. The urgency conveyed by the emergency clause may also lead to expedited processes that some stakeholders feel could overlook thorough evaluations.