HB1280
To Amend The Law Concerning Prohibited Contracts By State Agencies; And To Prohibit The Use Of Public Funds By State Agencies To Purchase Promotional Items Made In China.
AI-Generated Summary
This bill, House Bill 1280, proposes to amend existing Arkansas law concerning prohibited contracts by state agencies. The primary action of the bill is to prohibit state agencies from using public funds to purchase promotional items manufactured in the People's Republic of China. It explicitly adds a new section to Arkansas Code Title 25, Chapter 1, Subchapter 12, titled 'Promotional items made in China prohibited.' The bill also amends the definition of 'public funds' to align with existing statutes. Additionally, it includes a provision to change the name of Arkansas Code Title 25, Chapter 1, Subchapter 12 from 'Prohibited Contracts by State Agencies' to 'Prohibited Actions by State Agencies.' This change is to be implemented by the Arkansas Code Revision Commission. The purpose of these amendments is to restrict the source of promotional items purchased with state funds.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
If this bill becomes law, domestic manufacturers and suppliers of promotional items that are not made in China would likely benefit. This could include businesses located within the United States, and potentially within Arkansas, that produce goods suitable for promotional purposes. Such entities might see increased demand for their products as state agencies seek alternative sources for promotional items. Additionally, consumers of these promotional items might indirectly benefit from supporting domestic production.
Who Might Suffer?
The primary entities that would be negatively impacted by this bill are manufacturers and distributors of promotional items that are produced in China. State agencies would be directly restricted in their purchasing options, potentially facing higher costs or limited availability of certain promotional items if domestic alternatives are more expensive or less diverse. Businesses that currently rely on importing promotional items from China for sale to Arkansas state agencies would also experience a direct negative impact due to the loss of this market.