AR HB1091

Appropriates $40,929,391 from the State Central Services Fund for Arkansas Legislative Audit of the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee for fiscal year 2016-2017, including $27,975,459 for regular salaries and $7,736,532 for personal services matching.

Establishes a maximum of 292 employee positions across 16 job classifications, ranging from Legislative Auditor at $183,603 annually to various administrative and audit staff positions at specified grade levels.

Authorizes the Legislative Auditor to direct transfers between line items within the appropriation, except that the Regular Salaries line item cannot be increased or decreased without Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee review.

Permits employees to receive cost-of-living increases equal to other state employees, with additional merit pay and retention adjustments at the Legislative Auditor's discretion, and allows salary levels to exceed maximums by up to 20% for up to one-third of authorized positions with approval.

Takes effect July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017, and declared an emergency measure essential to agency operations.