AR HB1027

Appropriates $17,849,473 from the Southern Arkansas University Fund for personal services and operating expenses for fiscal year 2016-2017, including $15,458,974 for regular salaries and $2,025,000 for personal services matching.

Establishes a maximum of 489 regular employees for Southern Arkansas University with specified salary ranges, including administrative positions (President at $208,970), faculty positions (Distinguished Professors at $121,365), and 165 nine-month faculty members at various ranks.

Appropriates $100,000 from the Southern Arkansas University Fund for the SAU System and $54,000,000 from cash funds for operating expenses, capital improvements, debt service, and fund transfers.

Authorizes the Board of Trustees to reimburse tuition and educational expenses for current faculty pursuing additional education in critical shortage instructional areas and allows coaches of multiple sports to receive special allowances not exceeding $10,000 per fiscal year from auxiliary income.

Requires strict compliance with state procurement laws, accounting procedures, and fiscal control laws; declares the act effective July 1, 2016 as an emergency measure.