HB1055
An Act For The Department Of Education - Office Of Early Childhood Appropriation For The 2026-2027 Fiscal Year.
Last Action (April 1, 2026): Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE
Sponsors
AI-Generated Summary
House Bill 1055 serves as an appropriations act to provide funding for the personal services and operating expenses of the Arkansas Department of Education - Office of Early Childhood for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. The bill authorizes a maximum of 177 regular employees and 13 temporary or part-time employees. It allocates specific funds from various sources, including state and federal accounts, to support departmental operations, child care program grants, and facility improvement grants. The total funding provided through these various appropriations exceeds $290 million, with the bulk of the allocation dedicated to federal expenses related to early childhood programs. The bill includes provisions for compliance with state fiscal and procurement laws and outlines the legislative intent behind the funding. Finally, the bill includes an emergency clause, allowing it to take effect on July 1, 2026, to ensure the continuity of essential agency functions.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries are the employees of the Arkansas Department of Education - Office of Early Childhood, who receive authorized salary funding. Additionally, childcare facilities and entities providing early childhood education services throughout the state benefit from the allocated grants and program funding. Ultimately, children and families who rely on state-supported early childhood programs and child care initiatives are the intended public beneficiaries of these services.
Who Might Suffer?
There are no specific groups or entities negatively impacted by this legislation, as it is a standard budgetary measure to continue the operations of a state agency. However, if the funding levels were to be viewed as insufficient by specific advocates or service providers, they might perceive a negative impact. Furthermore, taxpayers are indirectly affected as this bill directs the expenditure of public state and federal funds, though this is a routine function of state government appropriations.
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