AR SB41

Establishes a maximum of 2 employees for the Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Commission for fiscal year 2018-2019: a Director (Grade GS09) and an Administrative Specialist III (Grade GS04)

Appropriates $963,163 total for the Commission including $94,131 in regular salaries, $31,457 in personal services matching, $84,575 in operating expenses, $3,000 for conference and travel, $500,000 in professional fees, and $250,000 in tobacco settlement grants

Requires the Commission to file quarterly progress reports to the Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committees and hire an independent third party to monitor and evaluate tobacco settlement program expenditures with a biennial report due to the General Assembly and Governor by August 1 preceding each regular session

Restricts transfer of appropriations except as specifically authorized in the act and requires Chief Fiscal Officer approval with Legislative Council authorization for any budget classification modifications

Effective July 1, 2018, with provisions that no positions funded by tobacco settlement money are guaranteed if funds become insufficient, and state funds will not replace expired tobacco settlement funds unless separately appropriated