AR HB1686

Appropriates $20,000 from the General Improvement Fund to the Economic Development Commission for grants to energy commission(s) to cover personal services, operating expenses, land acquisition, improvements, construction, renovation, major maintenance, and equipment and supplies purchases.

Allows the Economic Development Commission to adopt new rules and regulations to carry out the appropriation without being restricted by requirements applicable to other programs.

Permits recipient institutions and agencies to supplement state funds with grants, donations, federal funds, and unobligated cash income, but prohibits using maintenance and general operations funds for these purposes.

Requires strict compliance with State Purchasing Law, General Accounting and Budgetary Procedures Law, Revenue Stabilization Law, and other applicable fiscal control laws when disbursing funds.

Declares an emergency effective July 1, 2011, finding that the appropriation is essential to agency operations and that delaying effectiveness would cause irreparable harm to governmental programs.