HB1117 Summary

• Creates a new cabinet-level Department of Agriculture consolidating 22 existing boards, commissions, and offices including the State Plant Board, Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission, Arkansas Forestry Commission, and Arkansas Natural Resources Commission under a single Secretary appointed by the Governor.

• Transfers administrative functions, human resources, accounting operations, and personnel of transferred entities to the Department of Agriculture while allowing each entity to retain their statutory powers, authorities, duties, and rule-making functions.

• Establishes the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture as the chief executive with authority to delegate powers and duties to department employees and to hire key personnel including the State Forester, Directors of major commissions, and institutional law enforcement officers.

• Modifies the Arkansas Unpaved Roads Program to transfer administration from the Rural Services Division of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission.

• Declares the act effective July 1, 2019, as an emergency measure to allow implementation in advance of the upcoming fiscal year.