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*LCW081* 04-21-2026 14:10:26 LCW081
State of Arkansas As Engrossed: S4/21/26 1
95th General Assembly A Bill 2
Fiscal Session, 2026 SENATE BILL 24 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 DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 11
SERVICES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2027; 12
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 13
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Subtitle 16
AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN 17
SERVICES - DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL 18
DISABILITIES SERVICES APPROPRIATION FOR 19
THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR. 20
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 23
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SECTION 1. REGULAR SALARIES - OPERATIONS. There is hereby established 25
for the Department of Human Services - Division of Developmental Disabilities 26
Services for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the following maximum number of 27
regular employees. 28
29
Maximum Annual 30
Maximum Salary Rate 31
Item Class No. of Fiscal Year 32
No. Code Title Employees 2026-2027 33
(1) EEX22A HUMAN SERVICES DIVISION DIRECTOR 1 GRADE EXE02 34
(2) SSP03C DHS DIVISION ADMINISTRATOR 1 GRADE SPC09 35
(3) MHA01C NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATOR 5 GRADE SPC08 36
As Engrossed: S4/21/26 SB24
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(4) SSP04C DHS DIVISION MANAGER 3 GRADE SPC07 1
(5) MHA02C NURSING HOME ASST ADMINISTRATOR 6 GRADE SPC06 2
(6) PHS06C HEALTH PROGRAM MANAGER 9 GRADE SPC05 3
(7) SLA03P LABORATORY SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 1 GRADE SPC03 4
(8) EES01P EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL I 1 GRADE SPC02 5
(9) SCM06P LICENSED SOCIAL WORKER 4 GRADE SPC01 6
(10) SCM07P SCHOOL COUNSELOR 1 GRADE SPC01 7
(11) FFS01C FISCAL SUPPORT ADMINISTRATOR 1 GRADE SGS10 8
(12) FFS03C FISCAL SUPPORT MANAGER 4 GRADE SGS09 9
(13) PQA02C QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER 3 GRADE SGS09 10
(14) PHS08P HEALTH PROGRAM SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 16 GRADE SGS08 11
(15) HDH08P HR SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 5 GRADE SGS08 12
(16) PQA04P QUALITY ASSURANCE SUPVR/EXPERT 1 GRADE SGS08 13
(17) CTR04P TRAINING SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 1 GRADE SGS08 14
(18) TMA02C MAINTENANCE MANAGER 1 GRADE SGS07 15
(19) PRC07C RESIDENTIAL CARE MANAGER 12 GRADE SGS07 16
(20) PRC02C RESIDENTIAL SERVICES MANAGER 2 GRADE SGS07 17
(21) FFS05P FISCAL SUPPORT SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 2 GRADE SGS07 18
(22) PHS05P HEALTH PROGRAM COORDINATOR 104 GRADE SGS07 19
(23) PQA01P QUALITY ASSURANCE COORDINATOR 8 GRADE SGS07 20
(24) ETF06P TEACHER II 2 GRADE SGS07 21
(25) CTR02P TRAINER 9 GRADE SGS07 22
(26) PAS04C ADMINISTRATIVE SUPERVISOR 1 GRADE SGS06 23
(27) SCM01I CHAPLAIN 1 GRADE SGS06 24
(28) EEP05P EDUCATION PROGRAM SPECIALIST 7 GRADE SGS06 25
(29) HDH04P HR ANALYST 5 GRADE SGS06 26
(30) TMA04P MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 7 GRADE SGS06 27
(31) PQA03P QUALITY ASSURANCE SPECIALIST 9 GRADE SGS06 28
(32) ETF05P TEACHER I 9 GRADE SGS06 29
(33) TFS04C FOOD SERVICES SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 8 GRADE SGS05 30
(34) PRC06C RESIDENT. CARE TEAM SUPVR/EXPERT 85 GRADE SGS05 31
(35) PAS01P ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST 6 GRADE SGS05 32
(36) PPR04P PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST 5 GRADE SGS05 33
(37) TST06P TRADES APPRENTICE 1 GRADE SGS05 34
(38) THT02I DENTAL ASSISTANT 2 GRADE SGS04 35
(39) PAS02P ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR 45 GRADE SGS04 36
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(40) TFM01P FACILITY COORDINATOR 1 GRADE SGS04 1
(41) FFS04P FISCAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST 17 GRADE SGS04 2
(42) HDH07P HR SPECIALIST 11 GRADE SGS04 3
(43) TIW01P INVENTORY COORDINATOR 5 GRADE SGS04 4
(44) TMA03P MAINTENANCE SPECIALIST 40 GRADE SGS04 5
(45) PRC05P RESIDENTIAL CARE SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 422 GRADE SGS04 6
(46) TST07P TRADES SPECIALIST 2 GRADE SGS04 7
(47) THT01I CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT 899 GRADE SGS03 8
(48) EEP01P EDUCATION PARAPROFESSIONAL 1 GRADE SGS03 9
(49) TIW03P INVENTORY SPECIALIST 9 GRADE SGS03 10
(50) TFS05P KITCHEN SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 7 GRADE SGS03 11
(51) TMA05P MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN 38 GRADE SGS03 12
(52) SSE01P SECURITY GUARD 1 GRADE SGS03 13
(53) PAS05I CALL CENTER SPECIALIST 1 GRADE SGS02 14
(54) PAS03P ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST 120 GRADE SGS02 15
(55) THO02P HOUSEKEEPER SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 3 GRADE SGS02 16
(56) TGR01P LANDSCAPE COORDINATOR 13 GRADE SGS02 17
(57) TAT01I BEAUTICIAN 3 GRADE SGS01 18
(58) TFS01P COOK 128 GRADE SGS01 19
(59) PRC01P HEALTH AIDE 1 GRADE SGS01 20
(60) THO01P HOUSEKEEPER 119 GRADE SGS01 21
(61) MPH02P PHYSICIAN SPECIALIST 4 GRADE MED12 22
(62) MDE01I DENTIST 1 GRADE MED09 23
(63) MPS04P PSYCHOLOGIST II 3 GRADE MED09 24
(64) MNU04P NURSE PRACTITIONER 8 GRADE MED08 25
(65) MNU07C REGISTERED NURSE MANAGER 5 GRADE MED07 26
(66) MLM07C SPEECH PATHOLOGIST 8 GRADE MED07 27
(67) MDI02P DIETICIAN SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 2 GRADE MED06 28
(68) MNU03P NURSE INSTRUCTOR 3 GRADE MED06 29
(69) MNU08P REG. NURSE SUPERVISOR/EXPERT 24 GRADE MED06 30
(70) MNU06P REGISTERED NURSE 73 GRADE MED05 31
(71) MLM02C MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST 2 GRADE MED04 32
(72) MDI01P DIETICIAN 1 GRADE MED03 33
(73) MPS02P PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINER 10 GRADE MED03 34
(74) MNU01P LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE 104 GRADE MED02 35
(75) IIS06P IT INFRASTRUCTURE COORDINATOR 1 GRADE IST08 36
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(76) IIS09P IT INFRASTRUCTURE SPECIALIST 4 GRADE IST04 1
(77) IUS04P USER SUPPORT SPECIALIST 1 GRADE IST02 2
MAX. NO. OF EMPLOYEES 2,489 3
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SECTION 2. EXTRA HELP - OPERATIONS. There is hereby authorized, for 5
the Department of Human Services - Division of Developmental Disabilities 6
Services for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the following maximum number of part-7
time or temporary employees, to be known as "Extra Help", payable from funds 8
appropriated herein for such purposes: one hundred ninety-nine (199) 9
temporary or part-time employees, when needed, at rates of pay not to exceed 10
those provided in the Uniform Classification and Compensation Act, or its 11
successor, or this act for the appropriate classification. 12
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SECTION 3. APPROPRIATION - OPERATIONS. There is hereby appropriated, 14
to the Department of Human Services, to be payable from the paying account as 15
determined by the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, for personal services 16
and operating expenses of the Department of Human Services - Division of 17
Developmental Disabilities Services for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, 18
the following: 19
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ITEM FISCAL YEAR 21
NO. 2026-2027 22
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $103,987,884 23
(02) EXTRA HELP 2,860,944 24
(03) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 45,101,928 25
(04) OVERTIME 4,310,000 26
(05) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 27
(A) OPER. EXPENSE 30,477,449 28
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 25,000 29
(C) PROF. FEES 3,238,079 30
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 1,000,000 31
(E) DATA PROC. 0 32
(06) GRANTS/PATIENT SERVICES 2,487,134 33
(07) DATA PROCESSING SERVICES 1,000,000 34
(08) VOCATIONAL TRAINEES 239,000 35
(09) CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENT SERVICES 67,191 36
As Engrossed: S4/21/26 SB24
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(10) PURCHASE OF SERVICES 6,805,302 1
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $201,599,911 2
3
SECTION 4. APPROPRIATION - SPECIAL OLYMPICS. There is hereby 4
appropriated, to the Department of Human Services, to be payable from the 5
Developmental Disabilities Services Fund Account, for grants to the Arkansas 6
Special Olympics by the Department of Human Services - Division of 7
Developmental Disabilities Services for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, 8
the following: 9
10
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 11
NO. 2026-2027 12
(01) GRANTS-SPECIAL OLYMPICS $178,768 13
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SECTION 5. APPROPRIATION - COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. There is hereby 15
appropriated, to the Department of Human Services, to be payable from the 16
Developmental Disabilities Services-Dog Track Special Revenue Fund, for 17
expenses of the private non-profit community based programs licensed by the 18
Department of Human Services - Division of Developmental Disabilities 19
Services for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 20
21
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 22
NO. 2026-2027 23
(01) COMMUNITY PROGRAMS $50,000 24
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SECTION 6. APPROPRIATION - GRANTS-IN-AID. There is hereby 26
appropriated, to the Department of Human Services, to be payable from the 27
Developmental Disabilities Services Fund Account, for grants-in-aid to the 28
community providers of services to the developmentally disabled by the 29
Department of Human Services - Division of Developmental Disabilities 30
Services for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 31
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ITEM FISCAL YEAR 33
NO. 2026-2027 34
(01) GRANTS TO COMMUNITY PROVIDERS $15,892,045 35
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SECTION 7. APPROPRIATION - INTER-DIVISIONAL PROGRAMS. There is hereby 1
appropriated, to the Department of Human Services, to be payable from the 2
Developmental Disabilities Services Fund Account, for integrated services and 3
programs developed by the various divisions, for services and programs 4
developed in conjunction with other state agencies, and the development and 5
implementation of an integrated case management system for the Department of 6
Human Services - Division of Developmental Disabilities Services for the 7
fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 8
9
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 10
NO. 2026-2027 11
(01) INTER-DIVISIONAL PROGRAMS $108,644 12
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SECTION 8. APPROPRIATION - GRANTS - STATE. There is hereby 14
appropriated, to the Department of Human Services, to be payable from the 15
Department of Human Services Grants Fund Account, for grant payments of the 16
Department of Human Services - Division of Developmental Disabilities 17
Services for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 18
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ITEM FISCAL YEAR 20
NO. 2026-2027 21
(01) CHILDREN'S MEDICAL SERVICES-STATE $1,729,279 22
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SECTION 9. APPROPRIATION - GRANTS - FEDERAL. There is hereby 24
appropriated, to the Department of Human Services, to be payable from the 25
federal funds as designated by the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, for 26
federally funded grants of the Department of Human Services - Division of 27
Developmental Disabilities Services for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, 28
the following: 29
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ITEM FISCAL YEAR 31
NO. 2026-2027 32
(01) CHILDREN'S MEDICAL SERVICES-FEDERAL $446,205 33
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SECTION 10. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 35
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 36
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DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES - GRANTS TO COMMUNITY BASED PROVIDERS. Funds 1
allocated for community-based services under the appropriation for (i) the 2
Grants-in-Aid appropriation in this act, (ii) the Grants/Patient Services 3
Line in the Operations appropriation in this act, and (iii) the Inter-4
Divisional Programs appropriation in this act, shall be used only to provide 5
services through private community based services licensed or certified by 6
the Arkansas Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) or 7
licensed or certified by a Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity 8
(PASSE). Non-profit community-based programs licensed by the Division of 9
Developmental Disabilities Services are quasi-governmental instrumentalities 10
of the state which provide supports and services to individuals who have a 11
developmental disability or delay, who would otherwise require supports and 12
services through state-operated programs and facilities owned by the State of 13
Arkansas. When licensed providers are involved in delivering services which 14
are Medicaid reimbursable, they must enroll as a provider with the Arkansas 15
Medicaid Program and must bill the Arkansas Medicaid Program for all covered 16
services for eligible individuals. 17
Services which are covered by the Arkansas State Medicaid Program, 18
including the Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity (PASSE) model, will 19
be utilized to the maximum extent possible for any individual who is eligible 20
for Medicaid coverage. It is the intent of this section that DDS, as a 21
general policy, maximize the use of Medicaid funding available for 22
appropriate services. 23
Licensed private community providers funded from these appropriations for 24
community based services shall: 25
1. Screen each individual to whom services are provided for a determination 26
of eligibility or ineligibility for Medicaid coverage within thirty days of 27
the first date that services are provided. 28
2. Meet minimum standards of performance in the delivery of services to 29
people with disabilities as defined by the Department of Human Services - 30
Division of Developmental Disabilities Services. 31
3. Supply statistical and financial data to the Department of Human Services 32
- Division of Developmental Disabilities Services. 33
4. Establish and maintain a sound financial management system in accordance 34
with guidelines as set forth by the Department of Human Services. 35
5. Establish and maintain community support programs designed to provide 36
As Engrossed: S4/21/26 SB24
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coordinated care and treatment to ensure ongoing involvement and 1
individualized services for persons with disabilities. 2
It is the intent of this section to insure that wherever possible and 3
appropriate, Medicaid funds are utilized. 4
Nothing in this Act shall prevent the Division or any provider from 5
extending emergency services when appropriate measures have been taken in a 6
timely manner to secure Medicaid eligibility. 7
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 8
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 9
10
SECTION 11. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 11
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 12
ELIMINATION OF AUTISM WAIVER SERVICES WAITING LIST. Immediately upon the 13
effective date of this Act, the Department of Human Services - Division of 14
Developmental Disabilities Services shall budget, allocate, and expend up to 15
one million dollars ($1,000,000) for the elimination of the Autism Waiver 16
Services Program waiting list. 17
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 18
2025 2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 19
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SECTION 12. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS. Disbursement of funds 21
authorized by this act shall be limited to the appropriation for such agency 22
and funds made available by law for the support of such appropriations; and 23
the restrictions of the State Procurement Law, the General Accounting and 24
Budgetary Procedures Law, the Revenue Stabilization Law, the Regular Salary 25
Procedures and Restrictions Act, or their successors, and other fiscal 26
control laws of this State, where applicable, and regulations promulgated by 27
the Department of Finance and Administration, as authorized by law, shall be 28
strictly complied with in disbursement of said funds. 29
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SECTION 13. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the General 31
Assembly that any funds disbursed under the authority of the appropriations 32
contained in this act shall be in compliance with the stated reasons for 33
which this act was adopted, as evidenced by the Agency Requests, Executive 34
Recommendations and Legislative Recommendations contained in the budget 35
manuals prepared by the Department of Finance and Administration, letters, or 36
As Engrossed: S4/21/26 SB24
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summarized oral testimony in the official minutes of the Arkansas Legislative 1
Council or Joint Budget Committee which relate to its passage and adoption. 2
3
SECTION 14. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. It is found and determined by the 4
General Assembly, that the Constitution of the State of Arkansas prohibits 5
the appropriation of funds for more than a one (1) year period; that the 6
effectiveness of this Act on July 1, 2026 is essential to the operation of 7
the agency for which the appropriations in this Act are provided, and that in 8
the event of an extension of the legislative session, the delay in the 9
effective date of this Act beyond July 1, 2026 could work irreparable harm 10
upon the proper administration and provision of essential governmental 11
programs. Therefore, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this Act 12
being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health 13
and safety shall be in full force and effect from and after July 1, 2026. 14
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/s/Joint Budget Committee 16
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