Senate Bill 20 Summary

• Appropriates $3,273,583 from the State Board of Nursing Fund for personal services and operating expenses for fiscal year 2019-2020, including $1,610,135 in regular salaries for 30 full-time employees and $5,000 for temporary/part-time staff.

• Authorizes appropriations for specialized programs: $50,000 for Nursing Student Loan Program, $17,000 for Nursing Education Workshops, and $242,632 for criminal background check operations.

• Provides $130,000 grant from the State Board of Nursing Fund to the Arkansas Center for Nursing for fiscal year 2019-2020.

• Permits the Arkansas State Board of Nursing to request annual fund transfers up to $50,000 from the State Board of Nursing Fund to support the Student Loan Program, subject to Chief Fiscal Officer approval.

• Effective July 1, 2019, with emergency clause declaring the appropriations essential to agency operations and public health preservation.