SB55

Senate Bill 55 is an appropriations bill that provides funding for the Arkansas Department of Human Services, specifically the Division of Children and Family Services, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. The bill outlines the maximum number of authorized regular employees at 1,422 and authorizes extra help for part-time or temporary staff. It allocates specific funding for operations, personal services, data processing, and various grant programs. Key appropriations include over $54 million for foster care, $10.6 million for state residential treatment, and over $102 million for TANF-funded foster care. Additionally, the bill provides funds for child abuse and neglect prevention programs and safe harbor grants for sexually exploited children. The legislation includes an emergency clause to ensure funding is available by the start of the fiscal year on July 1, 2023.