AN ACT FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR.

Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
*JAR121* 04-27-2026 15:22:54 JAR121

State of Arkansas As Engrossed: S4/15/26 S4/27/26 1
95th General Assembly A Bill 2
Fiscal Session, 2026 SENATE BILL 31 3
4
By: Joint Budget Committee 5
6
7
For An Act To Be Entitled 8
AN ACT TO MAKE AN APPROPRIATION FOR PERSONAL SERVICES 9
AND OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE 10
OF THE COURTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 11
2027; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 12
13
14
Subtitle 15
AN ACT FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF 16
THE COURTS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-17
2027 FISCAL YEAR. 18
19
20
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 21
22
SECTION 1. REGULAR SALARIES - OPERATIONS. There is hereby established 23
for the Administrative Office of the Courts for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, 24
the following maximum number of regular employees. 25
26
Maximum Annual 27
Maximum Salary Rate 28
Item Class No. of Fiscal Year 29
No. Code Title Employees 2026-2027 30
(1) Q004N AOC DIRECTOR 1 GRADE EXE04 31
(2) Q008N AOC DEPUTY DIRECTOR 1 GRADE EXE03 32
(3) Q009C AOC MANAGING ATTORNEY 2 GRADE SPC10 33
(4) Q019C AOC SENIOR STAFF ATTORNEY 3 GRADE SPC06 34
(5) Q058C AOC JUDICIAL BRANCH EDUCATION DIR 1 GRADE SGS12 35
(6) Q014C AOC SPECIALTY COURT COORDINATOR 1 GRADE SGS12 36
As Engrossed: S4/15/26 S4/27/26 SB31

2 04-27-2026 15:22:54 JAR121

(7) Q050C AOC COURT INTERPRETER SERVICES DIR 1 GRADE SGS11 1
(8) Q071C AOC FISCAL OFFICER 1 GRADE SGS11 2
(9) Q069C AOC CASA COORDINATOR 1 GRADE SGS10 3
(10) G309C AOC GRANTS MANAGER 1 GRADE SGS10 4
(11) Q082C AOC INTERPRETER SC:L 1 GRADE SGS10 5
(12) Q258C AOC JUVENILE JUSTICE SPECIALIST 1 GRADE SGS10 6
(13) Q089C AOC OFFICE MANAGER 1 GRADE SGS10 7
(14) Q104C AOC PERSONNEL MANAGER 2 GRADE SGS10 8
(15) Q057C AOC PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER 1 GRADE SGS10 9
(16) Q081C AOC SPANISH INTERPRETER 4 GRADE SGS10 10
(17) Q070C AOC REGIONAL FUNCTIONAL SPECIALIST 6 GRADE SGS09 11
(18) Q289C AOC DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST 1 GRADE SGS08 12
(19) Q113C AOC EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT 5 GRADE SGS08 13
(20) Q102C AOC JUDICIAL EDUCATION SPECIALIST 1 GRADE SGS08 14
(21) A142C AOC PAYROLL SERVICES SPECIALIST 1 GRADE SGS08 15
(22) Q105C AOC RESEARCH ANALYST 1 GRADE SGS08 16
(23) Q260C AOC COURT APPLICATIONS BUSINESS DIR 1 GRADE IST12 17
(24) D143C AOC JUDICIAL CHIEF IT SECURITY ARCH 1 GRADE IST11 18
(25) Q088C AOC COMPUTER SUPPORT MANAGER 1 GRADE IST09 19
(26) Q219C AOC DATA QUALITY MANAGER 2 GRADE IST09 20
(27) Q048C AOC SOFTWARE ENGINEER 2 GRADE IST06 21
(28) Q114C AOC COMPUTER SUPPORT ANALYST II 2 GRADE IST05 22
MAX. NO. OF EMPLOYEES 47 23
24
SECTION 2. EXTRA HELP - OPERATIONS. There is hereby authorized, for 25
the Administrative Office of the Courts - Operations for the 2026-2027 fiscal 26
year, the following maximum number of part-time or temporary employees, to be 27
known as "Extra Help", payable from funds appropriated herein for such 28
purposes: two (2) temporary or part-time employees, when needed, at rates of 29
pay not to exceed those provided in the Uniform Classification and 30
Compensation Act, or its successor, or this act for the appropriate 31
classification. 32
33
SECTION 3. APPROPRIATION - OPERATIONS. There is hereby appropriated, 34
to the Administrative Office of the Courts, to be payable from the State 35
Central Services Fund, for personal services and operating expenses of the 36
As Engrossed: S4/15/26 S4/27/26 SB31

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Administrative Office of the Courts - Operations for the fiscal year ending 1
June 30, 2027, the following: 2
3
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 4
NO. 2026-2027 5
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $4,035,698 6
(02) EXTRA HELP 5,000 7
(03) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 1,297,099 8
(04) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 9
(A) OPER. EXPENSE 619,627 10
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 35,000 11
(C) PROF. FEES 45,000 12
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 164,500 13
(E) DATA PROC. 0 14
(05) JUDICIAL EDUCATION 400,000 15
(06) COURT INTERPRETER FEES 614,100 16
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $7,216,024 17
SECTION 4. REGULAR SALARIES - DISPUTE RESOLUTION COMMISSION. There is 18
hereby established for the Administrative Office of the Courts - Dispute 19
Resolution Commission for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the following maximum 20
number of regular employees. 21
22
Maximum Annual 23
Maximum Salary Rate 24
Item Class No. of Fiscal Year 25
No. Code Title Employees 2026-2027 26
(1) Q020C AOC ADR PROGRAM COORDINATOR 1 GRADE SGS12 27
(2) Q132C AOC ADR TRAINING COORDINATOR 1 GRADE SGS08 28
(3) Q113C AOC EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT 1 GRADE SGS08 29
MAX. NO. OF EMPLOYEES 3 30
31
SECTION 5. APPROPRIATION - DISPUTE RESOLUTION COMMISSION - STATE. 32
There is hereby appropriated, to the Administrative Office of the Courts, to 33
be payable from the State Central Services Fund, for personal services, 34
operating expenses and grants of the Administrative Office of the Courts - 35
Dispute Resolution Commission - State for the fiscal year ending June 30, 36
As Engrossed: S4/15/26 S4/27/26 SB31

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2027, the following: 1
2
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 3
NO. 2026-2027 4
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $232,681 5
(02) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 77,206 6
(03) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 7
(A) OPER. EXPENSE 35,514 8
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 15,000 9
(C) PROF. FEES 31,604 10
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 11
(E) DATA PROC. 0 12
(04) ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION GRANTS 25,000 13
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $417,005 14
15
SECTION 6. APPROPRIATION - ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION COMMISSION - 16
CASH. There is hereby appropriated, to the Administrative Office of the 17
Courts, to be payable from the cash fund deposited in the State Treasury as 18
determined by the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, for operating expenses, 19
fees and services of the Administrative Office of the Courts - Alternative 20
Dispute Resolution Commission - Cash for the fiscal year ending June 30, 21
2027, the following: 22
23
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 24
NO. 2026-2027 25
(01) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 26
(A) OPER. EXPENSE $125,000 27
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 30,000 28
(C) PROF. FEES 120,000 29
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 30
(E) DATA PROC. 0 31
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $275,000 32
33
SECTION 7. APPROPRIATION - HEARING & VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS - STATE. There 34
is hereby appropriated, to the Administrative Office of the Courts, to be 35
payable from the State Central Services Fund, for operating expenses for 36
As Engrossed: S4/15/26 S4/27/26 SB31

5 04-27-2026 15:22:54 JAR121

reasonable accommodations for persons with hearing and visual impairments to 1
act as a venire person or juror for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the 2
following: 3
4
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 5
NO. 2026-2027 6
(01) AUXILIARY AIDS-HEARING & VISUAL 7
IMPAIRMENTS $10,000 8
9
SECTION 8. APPROPRIATION - DISTRICT JUDGES CONTINUING EDUCATION - 10
STATE. There is hereby appropriated, to the Administrative Office of the 11
Courts, to be payable from the State Central Services Fund, for operating 12
expenses for a continuing education program for District Judges for the 13
fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 14
15
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 16
NO. 2026-2027 17
(01) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 18
(A) OPER. EXPENSE $60,000 19
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 20,000 20
(C) PROF. FEES 0 21
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 22
(E) DATA PROC. 0 23
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $80,000 24
25
SECTION 9. REGULAR SALARIES - DIVISION OF DEPENDENCY-NEGLECT 26
REPRESENTATION. There is hereby established for the Administrative Office of 27
the Courts - Division of Dependency-Neglect Representation for the 2026-2027 28
fiscal year, the following maximum number of regular employees. 29
30
Maximum Annual 31
Maximum Salary Rate 32
Item Class No. of Fiscal Year 33
No. Code Title Employees 2026-2027 34
(1) Q019C AOC SENIOR STAFF ATTORNEY 2 GRADE SPC06 35
(2) Q029C AOC AD LITEM ATTORNEY 34 GRADE SPC05 36
As Engrossed: S4/15/26 S4/27/26 SB31

6 04-27-2026 15:22:54 JAR121

(3) Q113C AOC EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT 1 GRADE SGS08 1
(4) Q191C AOC DATA ANALYST 1 GRADE IST06 2
MAX. NO. OF EMPLOYEES 38 3
4
SECTION 10. APPROPRIATION - DIVISION OF DEPENDENCY-NEGLECT 5
REPRESENTATION. There is hereby appropriated, to the Administrative Office 6
of the Courts, to be transferred from the State Administration of Justice 7
Fund, and to be payable from the State Central Services Fund, for personal 8
services and operating expenses of the Administrative Office of the Courts - 9
Division of Dependency-Neglect Representation for the fiscal year ending June 10
30, 2027, the following: 11
12
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 13
NO. 2026-2027 14
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $3,447,422 15
(02) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 1,092,833 16
(03) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 17
(A) OPER. EXPENSE 566,514 18
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 10,000 19
(C) PROF. FEES 1,405,816 20
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 21
(E) DATA PROC. 0 22
(04) LOCAL CASA PROGRAM GRANTS 1,750,000 23
(05) ATTORNEY AD LITEM FEES/REIMBURSEMENTS 396,750 24
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $8,669,335 25
26
SECTION 11. REGULAR SALARIES - COURT AUTOMATION. There is hereby 27
established for the Administrative Office of the Courts - Court Automation 28
for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the following maximum number of regular 29
employees. 30
31
Maximum Annual 32
Maximum Salary Rate 33
Item Class No. of Fiscal Year 34
No. Code Title Employees 2026-2027 35
(1) Q012N AOC CIS DIVISION DIRECTOR 1 GRADE IST15 36
As Engrossed: S4/15/26 S4/27/26 SB31

7 04-27-2026 15:22:54 JAR121

(2) Q015N AOC APPLICATIONS DIRECTOR 1 GRADE IST12 1
(3) Q261C AOC IT PROJECT MGMT OFFICE DIRECTOR 1 GRADE IST12 2
(4) Q062N AOC SYSTEMS DIRECTOR 1 GRADE IST12 3
(5) N187N CIS DIVISION ASSISTANT DIRECTOR 1 GRADE IST12 4
(6) Q005C AOC DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR 2 GRADE IST11 5
(7) Q259C AOC JUDICIAL CHIEF IT SEC OFFICER 1 GRADE IST11 6
(8) Q140C AOC DEVELOPMENT TEAM MANAGER 1 GRADE IST10 7
(9) Q028C AOC TECHNICAL TEAM MANAGER 1 GRADE IST10 8
(10) Q136C AOC INFORMATION SYSTEMS ADMIN 2 GRADE IST09 9
(11) Q016C AOC PROGRAM MANAGER 1 GRADE IST09 10
(12) Q190C AOC PROJECT MANAGER II 3 GRADE IST07 11
(13) Q138C AOC QUALITY ASSURANCE LEAD 1 GRADE IST07 12
(14) Q135C AOC BUSINESS ANALYST 4 GRADE IST06 13
(15) Q191C AOC DATA ANALYST 1 GRADE IST06 14
(16) Q139C AOC IT SECURITY ANALYST 1 GRADE IST06 15
(17) Q189C AOC PROJECT ANALYST 2 GRADE IST06 16
(18) Q137C AOC QUALITY ASSURANCE COORDINATOR 1 GRADE IST06 17
(19) Q300C AOC QUALITY ENGINEER 1 GRADE IST06 18
(20) Q142C AOC SOFTWARE ENGINEER 4 GRADE IST06 19
(21) Q049C AOC TECHNICAL ANALYST 3 GRADE IST06 20
(22) Q101C AOC WEBSITE DEVELOPER 1 GRADE IST06 21
(23) Q068C AOC APPLICATIONS SPECIALIST 8 GRADE IST05 22
MAX. NO. OF EMPLOYEES 43 23
24
SECTION 12. APPROPRIATION - COURT AUTOMATION. There is hereby 25
appropriated, to the Administrative Office of the Courts, to be payable from 26
the Judicial Fine Collection Enhancement Fund, for personal services, 27
operating expenses and other costs associated with the state court automation 28
system by the Administrative Office of the Courts - Court Automation for the 29
fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 30
31
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 32
NO. 2026-2027 33
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $3,748,354 34
(02) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 1,201,501 35
(03) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 36
As Engrossed: S4/15/26 S4/27/26 SB31

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(A) OPER. EXPENSE 2,450,000 1
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 25,000 2
(C) PROF. FEES 50,000 3
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 801,590 4
(E) DATA PROC. 0 5
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $8,276,445 6
7
SECTION 13. APPROPRIATION - COURT AUTOMATION - CASH. There is hereby 8
appropriated, to the Administrative Office of the Courts, to be payable from 9
the cash fund deposited in the State Treasury as determined by the Chief 10
Fiscal Officer of the State, for operating expenses and other costs 11
associated with the state court automation system of the Administrative 12
Office of the Courts - Court Automation - Cash for the fiscal year ending 13
June 30, 2027, the following: 14
15
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 16
NO. 2026-2027 17
(01) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 18
(A) OPER. EXPENSE $150,000 19
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 0 20
(C) PROF. FEES 0 21
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 22
(E) DATA PROC. 0 23
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $150,000 24
25
SECTION 14. APPROPRIATION - DISTRICT JUDGES & CLERKS CONTINUING 26
EDUCATION. There is hereby appropriated, to the Administrative Office of the 27
Courts, to be payable from the District Court Judge and District Court Clerk 28
Education Fund, for operating expenses for the purpose of providing 29
continuing education to District Court Judges and District Courts Clerks by 30
the Administrative Office of the Courts - District Court Judges & Clerks 31
Continuing Education for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 32
33
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 34
NO. 2026-2027 35
(01) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 36
As Engrossed: S4/15/26 S4/27/26 SB31

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(A) OPER. EXPENSE $100,000 1
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 10,000 2
(C) PROF. FEES 10,000 3
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 4
(E) DATA PROC. 0 5
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $120,000 6
7
SECTION 15. REGULAR SALARIES - COURT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM - FEDERAL. 8
There is hereby established for the Administrative Office of the Courts - 9
Court Improvement - Federal for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the following 10
maximum number of regular employees. 11
12
Maximum Annual 13
Maximum Salary Rate 14
Item Class No. of Fiscal Year 15
No. Code Title Employees 2026-2027 16
(1) Q056C AOC CIP PROGRAM MANAGER 1 GRADE SGS10 17
MAX. NO. OF EMPLOYEES 1 18
19
SECTION 16. APPROPRIATION - COURT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM - FEDERAL. There 20
is hereby appropriated, to the Administrative Office of the Courts, to be 21
payable from the federal funds as designated by the Chief Fiscal Officer of 22
the State, for personal services, operating expenses and grants of the 23
Administrative Office of the Courts - Court Improvement Program - Federal for 24
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 25
26
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 27
NO. 2026-2027 28
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $71,560 29
(02) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 24,357 30
(03) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 31
(A) OPER. EXPENSE 350,000 32
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 150,000 33
(C) PROF. FEES 30,000 34
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 35
(E) DATA PROC. 0 36
As Engrossed: S4/15/26 S4/27/26 SB31

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(04) DEPENDENCY NEGLECT GRANTS 140,000 1
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $765,917 2
3
SECTION 17. REGULAR SALARIES - ACCESS & VISITATION MEDIATION - FEDERAL. 4
There is hereby established for the Administrative Office of the Courts - 5
Access & Visitation Mediation - Federal for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the 6
following maximum number of regular employees. 7
8
Maximum Annual 9
Maximum Salary Rate 10
Item Class No. of Fiscal Year 11
No. Code Title Employees 2026-2027 12
(1) Q121C AOC DIRECTOR ACCESS & VISITATION 1 GRADE SGS07 13
MAX. NO. OF EMPLOYEES 1 14
15
SECTION 18. APPROPRIATION - ACCESS & VISITATION MEDIATION - FEDERAL. 16
There is hereby appropriated, to the Administrative Office of the Courts, to 17
be payable from the federal funds as designated by the Chief Fiscal Officer 18
of the State, for personal services and operating expenses of the 19
Administrative Office of the Courts - Access & Visitation Mediation - Federal 20
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 21
22
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 23
NO. 2026-2027 24
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $44,749 25
(02) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 18,333 26
(03) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 27
(A) OPER. EXPENSE 10,000 28
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 0 29
(C) PROF. FEES 85,000 30
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 31
(E) DATA PROC. 0 32
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $158,082 33
34
SECTION 19. REGULAR SALARIES - COURT SECURITY GRANTS. There is hereby 35
established for the Administrative Office of the Courts - Court Security 36
As Engrossed: S4/15/26 S4/27/26 SB31

11 04-27-2026 15:22:54 JAR121

Grants for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the following maximum number of regular 1
employees. 2
3
Maximum Annual 4
Maximum Salary Rate 5
Item Class No. of Fiscal Year 6
No. Code Title Employees 2026-2027 7
(1) Q133C AOC DIR OF SEC & EMER PREPAREDNESS 1 GRADE LES09 8
MAX. NO. OF EMPLOYEES 1 9
10
SECTION 20. APPROPRIATION - COURT SECURITY GRANTS. There is hereby 11
appropriated, to the Administrative Office of the Courts, to be payable from 12
the State Central Services Fund, for personal services, operating expenses 13
and security grants of the Administrative Office of the Courts - Court 14
Security Grants for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 15
16
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 17
NO. 2026-2027 18
(01) REGULAR SALARIES $101,563 19
(02) PERSONAL SERVICES MATCHING 31,249 20
(03) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 21
(A) OPER. EXPENSE 25,000 22
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 3,000 23
(C) PROF. FEES 5,000 24
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 25
(E) DATA PROC. 0 26
(04) SECURITY GRANTS 500,000 27
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $665,812 28
29
SECTION 21. APPROPRIATION - COUNTY JUROR REIMBURSEMENT. There is 30
hereby appropriated, to the Administrative Office of the Courts, to be 31
payable from the County Juror Reimbursement Fund, for reimbursing Arkansas 32
counties for the costs of jurors by the Administrative Office of the Courts - 33
County Juror Reimbursement for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the 34
following: 35
36
As Engrossed: S4/15/26 S4/27/26 SB31

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ITEM FISCAL YEAR 1
NO. 2026-2027 2
(01) COUNTY JUROR REIMBURSEMENTS $850,000 3
4
SECTION 22. APPROPRIATION - COURT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. There is hereby 5
appropriated, to the Administrative Office of the Courts, to be payable from 6
the cash fund deposited in the State Treasury as determined by the Chief 7
Fiscal Officer of the State, for operating expenses of the Administrative 8
Office of the Courts - Court Management Program for the fiscal year ending 9
June 30, 2027, the following: 10
11
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 12
NO. 2026-2027 13
(01) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 14
(A) OPER. EXPENSE $25,000 15
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 0 16
(C) PROF. FEES 0 17
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 18
(E) DATA PROC. 0 19
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $25,000 20
21
SECTION 23. APPROPRIATION - USDOT CASE MANAGEMENT. There is hereby 22
appropriated, to the Administrative Office of the Courts, to be payable from 23
the federal funds as designated by the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, for 24
operating expenses for US Department of Transportation Case Management 25
Program of the Administrative Office of the Courts - USDOT Case Management 26
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 27
28
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 29
NO. 2026-2027 30
(01) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 31
(A) OPER. EXPENSE $484,000 32
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 0 33
(C) PROF. FEES 0 34
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 35
(E) DATA PROC. 0 36
As Engrossed: S4/15/26 S4/27/26 SB31

13 04-27-2026 15:22:54 JAR121

TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $484,000 1
2
SECTION 24. APPROPRIATION - COURT INTERPRETERS. There is hereby 3
appropriated, to the Administrative Office of the Courts, to be payable from 4
the cash fund deposited in the State Treasury as determined by the Chief 5
Fiscal Officer of the State, for operating expenses associated with fees from 6
Court Interpreter candidates and interpreter fees ordered by judges for the 7
fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 8
9
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 10
NO. 2026-2027 11
(01) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 12
(A) OPER. EXPENSE $10,000 13
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 0 14
(C) PROF. FEES 15,000 15
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 16
(E) DATA PROC. 0 17
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $25,000 18
19
SECTION 25. APPROPRIATION - SPECIALTY COURT PROGRAM. There is hereby 20
appropriated, to the Administrative Office of the Courts, to be payable from 21
the Specialty Court Program Fund, for costs associated with the Specialty 22
Court Program and providing assistance and support to the Specialty Court 23
Advisory Committee for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 24
25
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 26
NO. 2026-2027 27
(01) SPECIALTY COURT PROGRAM $300,000 28
29
SECTION 26. APPROPRIATION - CASA PROGRAM. There is hereby 30
appropriated, to the Administrative Office of the Courts, to be payable from 31
the Arkansas Court Appointed Special Advocates Program Fund, for operating 32
expenses and grants to local CASA programs statewide of the Administrative 33
Office of the Courts - CASA Program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, 34
the following: 35
36
As Engrossed: S4/15/26 S4/27/26 SB31

14 04-27-2026 15:22:54 JAR121

ITEM FISCAL YEAR 1
NO. 2026-2027 2
(01) CASA PROGRAM EXPENSES $10,000 3
4
SECTION 27. APPROPRIATION - DRUG COURT ENHANCEMENT. There is hereby 5
appropriated, to the Administrative Office of the Courts, to be payable from 6
the federal funds as designated by the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, for 7
operating expenses of the Administrative Office of the Courts - Drug Court 8
Enhancement for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 9
10
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 11
NO. 2026-2027 12
(01) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 13
(A) OPER. EXPENSE $2,021,851 14
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 964,359 15
(C) PROF. FEES 3,677,807 16
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 17
(E) DATA PROC. 0 18
(02) GRANTS AND AID 2,498,223 19
(03) ADULT TREATMENT COURT PROGRAM 28,640 20
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $9,190,880 21
22
SECTION 28. APPROPRIATION - AOC STATEWIDE SOFTWARE LICENSE. There is 23
hereby appropriated, to the Administrative Office of the Courts, to be 24
payable from the cash fund deposited in the State Treasury as determined by 25
the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, for costs associated with software 26
licensing for district and circuit courts of the Administrative Office of the 27
Courts - Statewide Software License for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, 28
the following: 29
30
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 31
NO. 2026-2027 32
(01) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 33
(A) OPER. EXPENSE $30,000 34
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 0 35
(C) PROF. FEES 0 36
As Engrossed: S4/15/26 S4/27/26 SB31

15 04-27-2026 15:22:54 JAR121

(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 1
(E) DATA PROC. 0 2
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $30,000 3
4
SECTION 29. APPROPRIATION - JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM. There is hereby 5
appropriated, to the Administrative Office of the Courts, to be payable from 6
the federal funds as designated by the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, for 7
operating expenses associated with Juvenile Justice Racial and Ethnic 8
Disparities Reform Initiative of the Administrative Office of the Courts - 9
Juvenile Justice Reform for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the 10
following: 11
12
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 13
NO. 2026-2027 14
(01) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 15
(A) OPER. EXPENSE $353,774 16
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 13,914 17
(C) PROF. FEES 632,312 18
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 19
(E) DATA PROC. 0 20
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $1,000,000 21
22
SECTION 30. APPROPRIATION - ACCOUNTABILITY COURT FUND. There is hereby 23
appropriated, to the Administrative Office of the Courts, to be payable from 24
the Accountability Court Fund, for operating expenses and grants and aid of 25
the Administrative Office of the Courts - Accountability Court Fund for the 26
fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 27
28
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 29
NO. 2026-2027 30
(01) ACCOUNTABILITY COURT EXPENSES $400,000 31
32
SECTION 31. APPROPRIATION - ADULT DRUG COURT. There is hereby 33
appropriated, to the Administrative Office of the Courts, to be payable from 34
the cash fund deposited in the State Treasury as determined by the Chief 35
Fiscal Officer of the State, for operating expenses and grants and aid of the 36
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Administrative Office of the Courts - Adult Drug Court Program for the fiscal 1
year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 2
3
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 4
NO. 2026-2027 5
(01) ADULT DRUG COURT EXPENSES $1,000,000 6
7
SECTION 32. APPROPRIATION - SPECIALTY COURTS. There is hereby 8
appropriated, to the Administrative Office of the Courts, to be payable from 9
the State Central Services Fund, for operating expenses and grants for 10
specialty courts of the Administrative Office of the Courts for the fiscal 11
year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 12
13
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 14
NO. 2026-2027 15
(01) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 16
(A) OPER. EXPENSE $0 17
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 0 18
(C) PROF. FEES 2,800,000 19
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 20
(E) DATA PROC. 0 21
(02) GRANTS AND AID 1,700,000 22
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $4,500,000 23
24
SECTION 33. APPROPRIATION - COURTHOUSE LACTATION FACILITIES. There is 25
hereby appropriated, to the Administrative Office of the Courts, to be 26
payable from the cash fund deposited in the State Treasury as determined by 27
the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, for operating expenses and grants for 28
the construction, maintenance, renovation, equipping or purchase of lactation 29
facilities for Arkansas Courthouses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, 30
the following: 31
32
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 33
NO. 2026-2027 34
(01) COURTHOUSE LACTATION FACILITIES $100,000 35
36
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SECTION 34. APPROPRIATION - BYRNE JAG GRANT. There is hereby 1
appropriated, to the Administrative Office of the Courts, to be payable from 2
the federal funds as designated by the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, for 3
grants and aid to improve collaborative efforts with behavioral health and 4
criminal justice stakeholders for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the 5
following: 6
7
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 8
NO. 2026-2027 9
(01) GRANTS AND AID $150,000 10
11
SECTION 35. APPROPRIATION - COURT TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE. There is 12
hereby appropriated, to the Administrative Office of the Courts, to be 13
payable from the federal funds as designated by the Chief Fiscal Officer of 14
the State, for operating expenses for advancing the case management system in 15
Arkansas for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the following: 16
17
ITEM FISCAL YEAR 18
NO. 2026-2027 19
(01) MAINT. & GEN. OPERATION 20
(A) OPER. EXPENSE $0 21
(B) CONF. & TRAVEL 0 22
(C) PROF. FEES 4,027,500 23
(D) CAP. OUTLAY 0 24
(E) DATA PROC. 0 25
TOTAL AMOUNT APPROPRIATED $4,027,500 26
27
SECTION 36. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 28
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 29
FUND TRANSFER. Federal funds received by the Arkansas State Police from the 30
United States Department of Transportation from safety incentive funds 31
received under 23 USC Section 402 for the "State and Community Highway Safety 32
Program" may be granted to the Administrative Office of the Courts and 33
deposited into the State Central Services Fund to reimburse expenditures by 34
the Administrative Office of the Courts for operating expenses of the 35
Continuing Education Program for District Judges as appropriated in the 36
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District Judges Continuing Education - State appropriation herein. The 1
appropriation to the Administrative Office of the Courts provided in the 2
District Judges Continuing Education - State appropriation may be expended 3
only in the event that federal funds have been granted and will be 4
transferred from the Arkansas State Police to reimburse the Continuing 5
Education Program for District Judges. 6
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 7
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 8
9
SECTION 37. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 10
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 11
DEPENDENCY-NEGLECT REPRESENTATION APPROPRIATION TRANSFER AUTHORITY. The 12
Administrative Office of the Courts shall receive approval from the Chief 13
Fiscal Officer of the State and Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget 14
Committee to transfer funds and appropriations between line items Regular 15
Salaries, Personal Services Matching, Operating Expense, Professional Fees 16
and Attorney Ad Litem Fees/Reimbursements of the Division of Dependency-17
Neglect Representation appropriation herein for the payment of employees 18
and/or contractors providing legal services for the Division of Dependency-19
Neglect Representation. 20
Determining the maximum number of employees and the maximum amount of 21
appropriation and general revenue funding for a state agency each fiscal year 22
is the prerogative of the General Assembly. This is usually accomplished by 23
delineating such maximums in the appropriation act(s) for a state agency and 24
the general revenue allocations authorized for each fund and fund account by 25
amendment to the Revenue Stabilization law. Further, the General Assembly 26
has determined that the Administrative Office of the Courts may operate more 27
efficiently if some flexibility is provided to the Administrative Office of 28
the Courts authorizing broad powers under this Section. Therefore, it is 29
both necessary and appropriate that the General Assembly maintain oversight 30
by requiring prior approval of the Legislative Council or Joint Budget 31
Committee as provided by this section. The requirement of approval by the 32
Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee is not a severable part of this 33
section. If the requirement of approval by the Legislative Council or Joint 34
Budget Committee is ruled unconstitutional by a court of competent 35
jurisdiction, this entire section is void. 36
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The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 1
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 2
3
SECTION 38. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 4
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 5
MONTHLY INSTALLMENT. From July 1, 2025 2026 through June 20, 2026 2027, a 6
lump sum monthly installment of at least one-twelfth (1/12) of a portion of 7
the annual appropriation provided for in the Division of Dependency-Neglect 8
Representation appropriation of this Act, or so much thereof as may be made 9
available, shall be provided from the State Administration of Justice Fund to 10
the State Central Services Fund to provide a portion of the funds for that 11
appropriation. 12
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 13
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 14
15
SECTION 39. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 16
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. 17
TRANSFER PROVISION. After receiving approval from the Chief Fiscal Officer 18
of the State and Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee, the 19
Agency is authorized to transfer appropriation from any line item authorized 20
in Court Automation Appropriation of the Administrative Office of the Courts 21
in this Act to any other line item authorized in Court Automation 22
Appropriation. 23
Determining the maximum number of employees and the maximum amount of 24
appropriation and general revenue funding for a state agency each fiscal year 25
is the prerogative of the General Assembly. This is usually accomplished by 26
delineating such maximums in the appropriation act(s) for a state agency and 27
the general revenue allocations authorized for each fund and fund account by 28
amendment to the Revenue Stabilization law. Further, the General Assembly 29
has determined that the Administrative Office of the Courts may operate more 30
efficiently if some flexibility is provided to the Administrative Office of 31
the Courts authorizing broad powers under this Section. Therefore, it is both 32
necessary and appropriate that the General Assembly maintain oversight by 33
requiring prior approval of the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee 34
as provided by this section. The requirement of approval by the Legislative 35
Council or Joint Budget Committee is not a severable part of this section. 36
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If the requirement of approval by the Legislative Council or Joint Budget 1
Committee is ruled unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, 2
this entire section is void. 3
The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025 4
2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 5
6
SECTION 40. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 7
CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. FUNDING 8
AND APPROPRIATION TRANSFER AUTHORITY FOR COUNTY JUROR REIMBURSEMENT. (i) 9
After receiving prior approval by the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint 10
Budget Committee if meeting in a Legislative Session, the Director of the 11
Administrative Office of the Courts may direct the Chief Fiscal Officer of 12
the State to transfer appropriation to the County Juror Reimbursement 13
appropriation and State Central Services funding in the same amount to the 14
County Juror Reimbursement Fund from any State Central Services Fund 15
appropriation authorized for the Administrative Office of the Courts. 16
(ii) Determining the maximum amount of appropriation and funding for a state 17
agency each fiscal year is the prerogative of the General Assembly. This is 18
usually accomplished by delineating such maximums in the appropriation act(s) 19
for a state agency and the general revenue allocations authorized for each 20
fund and fund account by amendment to the Revenue Stabilization law. 21
Further, the General Assembly has determined that the Administrative Office 22
of the Courts may operate more efficiently if some flexibility is provided to 23
the Administrative Office of the Courts authorizing broad powers under this 24
Section. Therefore, it is both necessary and appropriate that the General 25
Assembly maintain oversight by requiring prior approval of the Legislative 26
Council or Joint Budget Committee, if meeting in a Legislative Session, as 27
provided by this section. The requirement of approval by the Legislative 28
Council or Joint Budget Committee is not a severable part of this section. 29
If the requirement of approval by the Legislative Council or Joint Budget 30
Committee is ruled unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, 31
this entire section is void. 32
(iii) The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 33
2025 2026 through June 30, 2026 2027. 34
35
SECTION 41. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS 36
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CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY 1
LAW. IMPLEMENTATION OF ACT 371 OF 2025 – INSTALLMENT FEES IN DISTRICT COURT. 2
(a)(1) The Administrative Office of the Courts may develop 3
implementation guidance to assist district courts with proper assessment of 4
installment fees in district court. 5
(2) The assessment and collection of installment fees shall 6
be implemented in a manner that minimizes the financial hardship imposed on 7
individuals who are authorized to pay fines on an installment basis. 8
(3) An installment fee totaling seventeen dollars and fifty 9
cents ($17.50) shall not be assessed under Acts 2025, No. 371, on a defendant 10
in a department of a district court. 11
(b) The provisions of this section shall be in effect only 12
from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. 13
14
SECTION 42. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS. Disbursement of funds 15
authorized by this act shall be limited to the appropriation for such agency 16
and funds made available by law for the support of such appropriations; and 17
the restrictions of the State Procurement Law, the General Accounting and 18
Budgetary Procedures Law, the Revenue Stabilization Law, the Regular Salary 19
Procedures and Restrictions Act, or their successors, and other fiscal 20
control laws of this State, where applicable, and regulations promulgated by 21
the Department of Finance and Administration, as authorized by law, shall be 22
strictly complied with in disbursement of said funds. 23
24
SECTION 43. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the General 25
Assembly that any funds disbursed under the authority of the appropriations 26
contained in this act shall be in compliance with the stated reasons for 27
which this act was adopted, as evidenced by the Agency Requests, Executive 28
Recommendations and Legislative Recommendations contained in the budget 29
manuals prepared by the Department of Finance and Administration, letters, or 30
summarized oral testimony in the official minutes of the Arkansas Legislative 31
Council or Joint Budget Committee which relate to its passage and adoption. 32
33
SECTION 44. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. It is found and determined by the 34
General Assembly, that the Constitution of the State of Arkansas prohibits 35
the appropriation of funds for more than a one (1) year period; that the 36
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effectiveness of this Act on July 1, 2026 is essential to the operation of 1
the agency for which the appropriations in this Act are provided, and that in 2
the event of an extension of the legislative session, the delay in the 3
effective date of this Act beyond July 1, 2026 could work irreparable harm 4
upon the proper administration and provision of essential governmental 5
programs. Therefore, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this Act 6
being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health 7
and safety shall be in full force and effect from and after July 1, 2026. 8
9
/s/Joint Budget Committee 10
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