HB1168 Summary

• Appropriates funds for the Department of Labor and Licensing boards and commissions for fiscal year 2023-2024, including salaries, personal services matching, operating expenses, and specialized programs

• Establishes maximum employee counts and salary grades for 19 regulatory boards including Accountancy, Architects, Contractors Licensing, Real Estate Commission, Engineers/Surveyors, Barber Examiners, and others

• Allocates specific funding for operational expenses, conferences, professional fees, education grants, and refunds/reimbursements across all boards (total appropriations exceed $10 million)

• Adds new code requiring Arkansas Abstracters' Board to contract independent investigators (not board members) and file annual reports on complaints and investigation findings

• Includes special provisions allowing fund transfers, grant programs (including $250,000 for Automotive Technologist Education), and maintains fund balance requirements for various boards