AR HB1596

Appropriates $15,000,000 from the General Improvement Fund to the Department of Parks and Tourism for grants supporting construction, renovation, maintenance, and equipment purchases for parks and recreational facilities

Requires the agency director to notify the Speaker of the House of Representatives at least 30 days before distributing funds, including the name, address, and amount for each grant recipient

Allows the Department to adopt new rules and regulations to implement the appropriations without restrictions applicable to other programs

Permits use of federal funds, grants, donations, and unobligated cash income to supplement state funds for project financing, but prohibits using regular maintenance and operations funds for these purposes

Establishes effective date of July 1, 2013, with emergency clause declaring immediate implementation necessary for agency operations