HB1500 Summary

• Appropriates $7,000,000 total to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff from the General Improvement Fund for seven categories of capital projects.

• Allocates $1,000,000 each for: roofing and environmental control system repairs; virtual desktop infrastructure hardware and upgrades; online desktop support and meetings system; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Complex construction; library construction and expansion; Health Center construction; and Diversity Center construction.

• Institutions may supplement state funds with grants, donations, Federal funds, and unobligated cash income to finance project costs, but may not use existing Maintenance and General Operations appropriations for these purposes.

• Requires strict compliance with State Purchasing Law, General Accounting and Budgetary Procedures Law, Revenue Stabilization Law, and Department of Finance and Administration regulations in fund disbursement.

• Declares an emergency effective July 1, 2013, citing constitutional restrictions on multi-year appropriations and the need for immediate fund availability for agency operations.