AR SB707

Appropriates $1,000,000 to the Department of Rural Services from the General Improvement Fund for grants supporting maintenance, renovation, construction, acquisition, improvement, upgrade and repair of real property and facilities, including properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Allows the Department of Rural Services to adopt new rules and regulations to carry out the intent of the appropriation without being restricted by requirements applicable to other programs.

Permits the Department to supplement State Treasury funds with grants, donations, Federal funds, and unobligated cash income to finance project costs, but prohibits use of Maintenance and General Operations funds for these purposes.

Requires strict compliance with State Purchasing Law, General Accounting and Budgetary Procedures Law, Revenue Stabilization Law, and other applicable fiscal control laws unless specifically provided otherwise by law.

Declares an emergency effective July 1, 2015, citing the constitutional prohibition on appropriations for more than one year and the essential need for immediate agency operation.