AR SB629

Appropriates $25,000,000 from the General Improvement Fund to the Department of Education - Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation for distributing loans to open-enrollment public charter schools for construction, lease, purchase, repair, improvement, or addition of academic facilities.

Appropriates $500,000 from the General Improvement Fund to the Department of Education for grants supporting the STEM Initiative for Curriculum and Instruction.

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

Permits institutions and agencies to supplement State Treasury funds with grants, donations, Federal funds, and unobligated cash income to finance project costs, but prohibits using appropriations for Maintenance and General Operations for these purposes.

Declares an emergency effective July 1, 2013, citing the Arkansas Constitution's prohibition on appropriations exceeding one year and the need for timely funding to ensure agency operations.