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Unknown Sponsorship

HB1163

An Act For The Department Of Labor And Licensing - Boards And Commissions Appropriation For The 2025-2026 Fiscal Year.

Passed

AI-Generated Summary

This bill makes appropriations for personal services and operating expenses for various boards and commissions under the Department of Labor and Licensing for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. It establishes maximum numbers of regular and extra help employees for specific boards, including the Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy, State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors, State Athletic Commission, Arkansas State Board of Architects, Landscape Architects and Interior Designers, Auctioneers Licensing Board, and Professional Bail Bonds Company and Professional Bail Bondsman Licensing Board. The bill details the appropriations for regular salaries, extra help, personal services matching, and maintenance and general operations, including operating expenses, conference and travel, professional fees, capital outlay, and data processing. Specific appropriations are also outlined for refunds/reimbursements, exam fees, claims, and processing security deposits and outstanding judgments for bail bonds companies. The funding for these appropriations will come from various sources, including cash funds deposited in the State Treasury, specific board funds, and federal programs.

Potential Impact Analysis

Who Might Benefit?

The primary beneficiaries of this bill are the various licensing boards and commissions within the Department of Labor and Licensing. These include the Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy, State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors, State Athletic Commission, Arkansas State Board of Architects, Landscape Architects and Interior Designers, Auctioneers Licensing Board, and Professional Bail Bonds Company and Professional Bail Bondsman Licensing Board. The employees and operational functions of these boards are directly supported by the appropriations outlined in the bill. Additionally, individuals and entities regulated by these boards, such as accountants, appraisers, home inspectors, athletes, architects, landscape architects, interior designers, auctioneers, and bail bondsmen, may indirectly benefit from the continued regulatory oversight and operational capacity of these bodies.

Who Might Suffer?

This bill is primarily an appropriation measure and does not appear to directly negatively impact any specific groups or entities in its core function of funding state government operations. However, any entities or individuals who are subject to licensing, regulation, or fees from the boards receiving appropriations could potentially face increased costs or scrutiny if these operational funds are used to enhance enforcement or expand regulatory activities. Furthermore, if the funding sources for these appropriations are derived from taxes or fees that are passed on to consumers, those consumers could experience indirect negative impacts.

Read Full Bill on arkleg.state.ar.us