HB1396
An Act For The Department Of Corrections - Division Of Correction Reappropriation.
AI-Generated Summary
This bill, House Bill 1396 of the 95th General Assembly of Arkansas, seeks to reappropriate balances of capital improvement appropriations for the Department of Corrections - Division of Correction. The reappropriations are to be effective July 1, 2025, and cover various projects including prison expansion, personal services and operating expenses for female work release programs, maintenance and upgrades of existing facilities, construction of armories, replacement of a water treatment plant, and various industry and farm projects. Funds will be drawn from the Development and Enhancement Fund, a cash fund, the Division of Correction Prison Industry Fund, and the Division of Correction Farm Fund. The bill also outlines disbursement controls, stating that contracts cannot exceed available funds, but allows for supplementation with grants, donations, and unobligated cash income. It emphasizes compliance with fiscal control laws. Finally, it declares an emergency, stating the act is necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health, and safety, and should be effective July 1, 2025, to ensure the proper administration of governmental programs.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries of this bill are the Department of Corrections and the Division of Correction within Arkansas. Specifically, the bill aims to provide funding for capital improvement projects that directly support the operations, expansion, and maintenance of correctional facilities. This includes benefits for the prison system's infrastructure, personnel for specific programs like female work release, and the ongoing management of industry and farm projects associated with the correctional system. Additionally, indirectly, entities involved in construction, maintenance, and provision of goods and services related to these capital improvements would benefit.
Who Might Suffer?
This bill is primarily an appropriation of existing funds and does not introduce new taxes or mandates on the general public. Therefore, there are no groups or entities directly and negatively impacted by the passage of this bill in terms of increased financial burden or new regulatory requirements. The bill reallocates previously appropriated funds for specific correctional projects, and as such, the impact is confined to the operational and financial aspects of the Department of Corrections and its associated entities.