HB1067

House Bill 1067 is an appropriation act that establishes the annual budget and authorized staffing levels for the Arkansas State University – Arkansas Biosciences Institute for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. The bill provides a total appropriation of $5,643,838, funded through the Tobacco Settlement Program Fund. It authorizes a maximum of 43 regular full-time positions for the Institute, ranging from administrative and technical roles to faculty and research positions. The legislation sets specific salary maximums for these employees and delineates allocations for maintenance, operations, and capital outlay. Additionally, the act includes special provisions allowing for the transfer of funds between appropriation line items with oversight from the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee. It also mandates that employees be notified that their positions are dependent on the availability of Tobacco Settlement funds. The bill includes an emergency clause to ensure it becomes effective on July 1, 2026.