AR HB1378

Appropriates $5,000,000 to the Department of Finance and Administration - Disbursing Officer for Planning and Development Grants from the General Improvement Fund.

Distributes $1,000,000 each to eight regional economic development districts: Northwest, North Central, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, Western, West Central, and Central Arkansas Economic Development Districts.

Permits recipient agencies to supplement state funds with grants, donations, federal funds, and unobligated cash income to finance project costs.

Requires strict compliance with State Purchasing Law, General Accounting and Budgetary Procedures Law, Revenue Stabilization Law, and other fiscal control laws in fund disbursement.

Declares an emergency effective date of July 1, 2013, citing the Arkansas Constitution's prohibition on multi-year appropriations and the need for immediate agency operation.