HB1063

House Bill 1063 appropriates funding for the personal services and operating expenses of the Arkansas Waterways Commission within the Department of Commerce for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. The bill authorizes a maximum of three regular full-time employees and allocates specific funds for operations, totaling $333,344. Additionally, it provides $5,000,000 for the Arkansas Port, Intermodal, and Waterway Development Grant Program and $2,000,000 for the Arkansas River Navigation System Fund. The legislation includes special provisions regarding the payment of membership dues to various waterway and flood control associations. It also grants the commission authorization to allocate up to $1,500 for promotional items for outreach purposes. Finally, the bill includes an emergency clause to ensure funding is available by the start of the fiscal year on July 1, 2023.