AR HB1076

Establishes a maximum of 7 regular employees for the State Board of Election Commissioners for fiscal year 2016-2017, including positions for director, attorney specialist, deputy director, educational services manager, election coordinators, and administrative analyst.

Appropriates $638,145 from the Miscellaneous Agencies Fund Account for personal services and operating expenses, comprising $397,259 in regular salaries, $124,826 in personal services matching, and $108,060 in operating expenses plus $3,000 for conferences and travel and $5,000 for professional fees.

Appropriates $6,340,000 from the Miscellaneous Agencies Fund Account and $1,600,000 from the Nonpartisan Filing Fee Fund for election expenses covering preferential primary, general primary, special primary, nonpartisan general, and statewide special elections.

Authorizes carry-forward of unexpended election expense balances to the next fiscal year, subject to written justification and reporting requirements to the Department of Finance and Administration and Arkansas Legislative Council.

Permits transfers from the Budget Stabilization Trust Fund to cover election expenses if appropriated funds are insufficient, with unused transferred amounts returned to the trust fund at fiscal year end.