HB1395
An Act For The Department Of Parks, Heritage, And Tourism - State Parks And Tourism Divisions Reappropriation.
AI-Generated Summary
This bill, House Bill 1395, aims to reappropriate existing capital improvement funds for the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism. Specifically, it seeks to reappropriate $16,520,000 from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Grant and Trust Fund. These funds are intended for the acquisition, management, stewardship, or preservation of state-owned lands, historic sites, buildings, structures, or objects. The bill specifies that this reappropriation will be effective from July 1, 2025. It also outlines disbursement controls, stating that no contract can exceed available State Treasury funds, but allows for the acceptance and use of grants, donations, and available cash income to supplement state funds. The bill emphasizes compliance with all applicable fiscal control laws and legislative intent. An emergency clause is included, declaring the act necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, and setting its effective date for July 1, 2025.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries of this bill would be the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, specifically its State Parks and Tourism Divisions. The appropriation allows these divisions to continue or initiate projects related to the acquisition, management, stewardship, and preservation of state-owned lands and historic assets. This could lead to improvements in state parks, the protection of cultural resources, and the potential for enhanced tourism infrastructure and experiences, ultimately benefiting the public who utilize these resources.
Who Might Suffer?
This bill is primarily a reappropriation of existing funds and does not appear to directly negatively impact specific groups or entities in its current form. However, any fiscal constraints or limitations on the use of funds, as outlined in the disbursement controls, could indirectly affect the scope or timeline of projects undertaken by the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism. Furthermore, if the reappropriated funds are diverted from other potential uses or projects that could have benefited other sectors or entities, those would be indirectly impacted by the allocation of these resources to the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism.