SB345 Summary

• Amends Arkansas Code § 21-5-1406(b) to update classification titles and assigned salary grades for higher education positions, with grades ranging from C101 to C128 for standard positions and N901 to N922 for professional and executive positions.

• Updates compensation pay plans effective July 1, 2021, establishing minimum, midpoint, and maximum salary ranges for each grade level across the three-tier pay structure.

• Modifies salary increase procedures to allow the Division of Higher Education to authorize up to 2% annual salary increases upon certification that sufficient funds exist, replacing the previous 1% automatic increase on July 1, 2019.

• Repeals Arkansas Code § 21-5-1418, which previously allowed special labor market rates for information technology professionals.

• Declares an emergency effective July 1, 2021, to align compensation changes with higher education appropriation acts and prevent disruption to state higher education employees.