SB164 Summary

• Appropriates $8,775,286 for Department of Agriculture Shared Services, including 61 maximum employees with salaries, personal services matching, uniform allowance, operating expenses, conferences and travel, professional fees, and capital outlay.

• Appropriates $15,287,298 for Department of Agriculture Operations, including 541 maximum employees, with funding for regular salaries, extra help, personal services matching, overtime, uniform allowance, maintenance and general operations, payment in lieu of taxes, and boll weevil program.

• Establishes appropriations for specialized programs including livestock and poultry disease control ($1,110,876), egg grading ($3,618,753), agri laboratory testing ($2,200,450), plant board administration ($9,231,908), forestry operations ($14,671,312), and various forestry grant and loan programs totaling over $7 million.

• Authorizes 176 temporary or part-time "Extra Help" employees for the Department of Agriculture when needed at rates not exceeding those provided in the Uniform Classification and Compensation Act.

• Includes special provisions allowing the Chief Fiscal Officer and department leadership to transfer funds and positions between accounts with prior approval from the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee for efficiency and elimination of service duplication.