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*LCW077* 04-21-2026 14:09:21 LCW077
State of Arkansas As Engrossed: S4/21/26 1
95th General Assembly A Bill 2
Fiscal Session, 2026 SENATE BILL 23 3
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By: Joint Budget Committee 5
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For An Act To Be Entitled 8
AN ACT TO MAKE AN APPROPRIATION FOR PERSONAL SERVICES 9
AND OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN 10
SERVICES - DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES FOR THE FISCAL 11
YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2027; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 12
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Subtitle 15
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN 16
SERVICES - DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES 17
APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL 18
YEAR. 19
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 22
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SECTION 1. REGULAR SALARIES - OPERATIONS. There is hereby established 24
for the Department of Human Services - Division of Youth Services for the 25
2026-2027 fiscal year, the following maximum number of regular employees. 26
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Maximum Annual 28
Maximum Salary Rate 29
Item Class No. of Fiscal Year 30
No. Code Title Employees 2026-2027 31
(1) EEX22A HUMAN SERVICES DIVISION DIRECTOR 1 GRADE EXE02 32
(2) SSP07C SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR 3 GRADE SPC08 33
(3) LAT04P ATTORNEY II 1 GRADE SPC05 34
(4) FFS01C FISCAL SUPPORT ADMINISTRATOR 1 GRADE SGS10 35
(5) CTR03C TRAINING MANAGER 1 GRADE SGS10 36
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(6) IMP02C MILITARY PROGRAM MANAGER 1 GRADE SGS09 1
(7) SSP15C SOCIAL SERVICES MANAGER 1 GRADE SGS09 2
(8) PQA04P QUALITY ASSURANCE SUPVR/EXPERT 1 GRADE SGS08 3
(9) SSP17P SOCIAL SERVICES SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 18 GRADE SGS08 4
(10) PPR02P PROCUREMENT COORDINATOR 2 GRADE SGS07 5
(11) PQA01P QUALITY ASSURANCE COORDINATOR 1 GRADE SGS07 6
(12) SSP11P SOCIAL SERVICES COORDINATOR 14 GRADE SGS07 7
(13) ETF06P TEACHER II 4 GRADE SGS07 8
(14) CTR02P TRAINER 4 GRADE SGS07 9
(15) EEP05P EDUCATION PROGRAM SPECIALIST 5 GRADE SGS06 10
(16) SSP16P SOCIAL SERVICES SPECIALIST 10 GRADE SGS06 11
(17) ETF05P TEACHER I 5 GRADE SGS06 12
(18) PAS01P ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST 2 GRADE SGS05 13
(19) IIV03P INVESTIGATOR II 3 GRADE SGS05 14
(20) SSP08P SOCIAL SERVICES ADVISOR 11 GRADE SGS05 15
(21) PAS02P ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR 5 GRADE SGS04 16
(22) FGM01P GRANTS ANALYST 1 GRADE SGS04 17
(23) IIN01P INSPECTOR I 1 GRADE SGS04 18
(24) SSP10P SOCIAL SERVICES ASSISTANT 24 GRADE SGS02 19
(25) MNU06P REGISTERED NURSE 2 GRADE MED05 20
MAX. NO. OF EMPLOYEES 122 21
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SECTION 2. EXTRA HELP - OPERATIONS. There is hereby authorized, for 23
the Department of Human Services - Division of Youth Services for the 2026-24
2027 fiscal year, the following maximum number of part-time or temporary 25
employees, to be known as "Extra Help", payable from funds appropriated 26
herein for such purposes: thirty-six (36) temporary or part-time employees, 27
when needed, at rates of pay not to exceed those provided in the Uniform 28
Classification and Compensation Act, or its successor, or this act for the 29
appropriate classification. 30
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SECTION 3. APPROPRIATION - OPERATIONS. There is hereby appropriated, 32
to the Department of Human Services, to be payable from the paying account as 33
determined by the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, for personal services 34
and operating expenses of the Department of Human Services - Division of 35
Youth Services for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 36
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1
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 2
NO. 2026-2027 3
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $6,074,027 4
(02) EXTRA HELP 41,903 5
(03) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 2,382,574 6
(04) OVERTIME 8,699 7
(05) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 8
(A) OPER. EXPENSE 5,257,099 9
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 55,400 10
(C) PROF. FEES 609,050 11
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 105,000 12
(E) DATA PROC. 0 13
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $14,533,752 14
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SECTION 4. APPROPRIATION - COMMUNITY BASED SANCTIONS. There is hereby 16
appropriated, to the Department of Human Services - Division of Youth 17
Services, to be payable from the Youth Services Fund Account, for grants and 18
aid for graduated community based sanctions for juveniles adjudicated 19
delinquent for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 20
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ITEM FISCAL YEAR 22
NO. 2026-2027 23
(01) COMMUNITY BASED SANCTIONS $2,480,444 24
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SECTION 5. APPROPRIATION - COMMUNITY SERVICES. There is hereby 26
appropriated, to the Department of Human Services, to be payable from the 27
Youth Services Fund Account, for purchase of services from community based 28
providers of the Department of Human Services - Division of Youth Services 29
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 30
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ITEM FISCAL YEAR 32
NO. 2026-2027 33
(01) COMMUNITY SERVICES $13,821,100 34
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SECTION 6. APPROPRIATION - FEDERAL CHILD AND YOUTH SERVICE GRANTS. 36
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There is hereby appropriated, to the Department of Human Services, to be 1
payable from the federal funds as designated by the Chief Fiscal Officer of 2
the State, for federally funded grants of the Department of Human Services - 3
Division of Youth Services for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the 4
following: 5
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ITEM FISCAL YEAR 7
NO. 2026-2027 8
(01) FEDERAL CHILD AND YOUTH SERVICE GRANTS $17,832,942 9
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SECTION 7. APPROPRIATION - RESIDENTIAL SERVICES. There is hereby 11
appropriated, to the Department of Human Services, to be payable from the 12
Youth Services Fund Account, for the purchase and operation of residential 13
services by the Department of Human Services - Division of Youth Services for 14
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 15
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ITEM FISCAL YEAR 17
NO. 2026-2027 18
(01) RESIDENTIAL SERVICES $34,616,356 19
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SECTION 8. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 21
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. TRANSFER 22
OF FUNDS FOR THE JUVENILE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM. The Department of Human 23
Services shall provide funding in an amount not to exceed $240,000 for the 24
fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 2027 for the Juvenile Ombudsman Program 25
described in ACA 25-43-1008. Upon request by the Secretary of the Department 26
of Inspector General, the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State shall transfer an 27
amount not to exceed $240,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 2027 28
from an account designated by the Secretary of the Department of Human 29
Services to the State Central Services Fund as a direct revenue to fund the 30
Juvenile Ombudsman Program. 31
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 32
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 33
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SECTION 9. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 35
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. TRANSFER 36
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OF FUNDS FOR LOCAL JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITIES. The Chief Fiscal Officer 1
of the State shall transfer funds in an amount of $400,000 for the fiscal 2
year ending June 30, 2026 2027 from the Department of Human Services – Youth 3
Services Fund Account to the Juvenile Detention Facilities Operating Fund to 4
fund the appropriation to the Department of Finance and Administration – 5
Disbursing Officer for grants for operating expenses of local juvenile 6
detention facilities. 7
The amount of the funds transferred in the fiscal year ending June 30, 8
2026 2027 may be adjusted upon request of the Secretary of the Department of 9
Human Services on a pro-rata basis with any reductions provided in the 10
Revenue Stabilization Law from the July 1 Official Forecast of general 11
revenue funding for the Division of Youth Services. 12
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 13
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 14
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SECTION 10. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 16
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 17
RESIDENTIAL SERVICES CONTINGENCY. If it has been determined that the 18
Department of Human Services - Division of Youth Services cannot continue to 19
contract with private provider(s) for residential juvenile services, 20
educational services, therapeutic services, and/or medical services and deems 21
it necessary to utilize Department staff to provide all or parts of the 22
required services above, the Department is authorized to seek the approval of 23
the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, the Governor and the Arkansas 24
Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee to utilize the contingent 25
residential services positions contained in this Act and to make the 26
appropriate transfers from any line item authorized in the RESIDENTIAL 27
SERVICES appropriation of this Act to any line item authorized in the 28
OPERATIONS appropriation of this Act. If it has been determined that the 29
Department of Human Services - Division of Youth Services cannot continue to 30
operate one or more of the various service components of a Residential 31
Facility for residential juvenile services, educational services, therapeutic 32
services, and/or medical services and deems it necessary to utilize a 33
contract with private provider(s), the Department is authorized to seek the 34
approval of the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, the Governor and the 35
Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee to make the 36
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appropriate transfers from any line item authorized in the OPERATIONS 1
appropriation of this Act to any line item authorized in the RESIDENTIAL 2
SERVICES appropriation of this Act. 3
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 4
2025 2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 5
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SECTION 11. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 7
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. EXTRA 8
HELP SALARIES - CONTINGENT RESIDENTIAL SERVICES POSITIONS. There is hereby 9
established for the Department of Human Services - Division of Youth Services 10
- Contingent Residential Services Positions, the following maximum number of 11
positions whose salaries shall be governed by the provisions of the Uniform 12
Classification and Compensation Act (Arkansas Code § 21-5-201 et seq.), or 13
its successor, and all laws amendatory thereto. Requests to use positions 14
will be based upon the non-contracted services for residential juvenile 15
services, educational services, therapeutic services, and/or medical 16
services. If at such time a category(s) of services are contracted with 17
private provider(s), identified positions associated with such service(s) 18
shall be returned to the contingency pool. In order to ensure required 19
staffing levels, Extra Help positions authorized herein are specifically 20
exempt from limitation of hours, either by Act or regulation. 21
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CONTINGENT POSITIONS - RESIDENTIAL SERVICES 23
MAXIMUM 24
ITEM CLASS NO. OF 25
NO. CODE TITLE EMPLOYEES 26
(01) 9999 EXTRA HELP 320 27
GRAND TOTAL CONTINGENT POSITIONS 320 28
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The provisions of this section shall be in effect through June 30, 2026 2027. 30
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SECTION 12. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS. Disbursement of funds 33
authorized by this act shall be limited to the appropriation for such agency 34
and funds made available by law for the support of such appropriations; and 35
the restrictions of the State Procurement Law, the General Accounting and 36
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Budgetary Procedures Law, the Revenue Stabilization Law, the Regular Salary 1
Procedures and Restrictions Act, or their successors, and other fiscal 2
control laws of this State, where applicable, and regulations promulgated by 3
the Department of Finance and Administration, as authorized by law, shall be 4
strictly complied with in disbursement of said funds. 5
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SECTION 13. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the General 7
Assembly that any funds disbursed under the authority of the appropriations 8
contained in this act shall be in compliance with the stated reasons for 9
which this act was adopted, as evidenced by the Agency Requests, Executive 10
Recommendations and Legislative Recommendations contained in the budget 11
manuals prepared by the Department of Finance and Administration, letters, or 12
summarized oral testimony in the official minutes of the Arkansas Legislative 13
Council or Joint Budget Committee which relate to its passage and adoption. 14
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SECTION 14. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. It is found and determined by the 16
General Assembly, that the Constitution of the State of Arkansas prohibits 17
the appropriation of funds for more than a one (1) year period; that the 18
effectiveness of this Act on July 1, 2026 is essential to the operation of 19
the agency for which the appropriations in this Act are provided, and that in 20
the event of an extension of the legislative session, the delay in the 21
effective date of this Act beyond July 1, 2026 could work irreparable harm 22
upon the proper administration and provision of essential governmental 23
programs. Therefore, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this Act 24
being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health 25
and safety shall be in full force and effect from and after July 1, 2026. 26
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/s/Joint Budget Committee 28
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