Senate Bill 66 Summary

• Appropriates $21,921,025 from the Parks and Tourism Fund for state operations including regular salaries ($15,168,503), extra help, personal services matching, maintenance and general operations, tourism/museum grants, tourism promotion, and advertising expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013.

• Establishes maximum of 775 regular employees and authorizes up to 795 temporary/part-time employees for the Department of Parks and Tourism, with specific salary grades and position classifications listed.

• Appropriates an additional $35,580,413 from Conservation Tax proceeds for regular salaries, extra help, maintenance and general operations, construction ($16,624,272), and special maintenance ($1,818,615).

• Provides supplemental appropriations for specialized programs including Keep Arkansas Beautiful ($694,829), Tourism Promotion ($12,957,881), Outdoor Recreation Grants ($3,462,581), and various other programs totaling approximately $93 million across all fund sources.

• Includes emergency clause making the appropriations effective July 1, 2012, and special language authorizing specific uses such as cash prizes for state parks contests (not to exceed $10,000 per year), tourism attraction feasibility grants, and regional tourist promotion agency grants requiring matching funds.