arkansas legislative council
Arkansas Legislative Council approves rural hospital aid, court system funds
Arkansas legislators gave final approval on Friday for a new Southwest Arkansas hospital to receive $6.25 million in federal relief funds and voted down an attempt to take up several more federal aid requests. The Arkansas Legislative Council’s Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review subcommittee green-lit the American Rescue Plan Act funds for Sevier County Medical […]
New Sevier County hospital wins $6.25 million grant after legislative panel debate
State lawmakers approved $6.25 million in federal recovery funds for a rural Southwest Arkansas hospital on Tuesday, but not before a couple of senators complained about last-minute funding requests that seemed to bypass legislative procedures. Not receiving the funds “would really put us in a financial bind,” hospital CEO Lori House told the Arkansas Legislative […]
Lawmakers approve $20 million for Arkansas court management system upgrade
A legislative subcommittee on Tuesday approved $113.9 million in federal COVID relief funds to upgrade the state’s court management system and support broadband projects. The Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts will use $20 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars to accelerate development of a new system to replace its outdated one over the […]
Lawmakers authorize almost $55 million in recovery funds for school districts
More than $54.8 million in federal relief funds will be disbursed to 26 school districts following approval by an Arkansas Legislative Council subcommittee Wednesday. The action marked the panel’s seventh round of review of school districts’ spending plans since July, when the council strongly recommended that schools use American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School […]
Legislators approve $72 million in relief funds for Arkansas school districts
An Arkansas Legislative Council subcommittee approved the disbursal of $72.4 million in federal recovery funds to seven school districts Thursday. This was the sixth round of plans reviewed by lawmakers. The council adopted recommendations in July that schools use American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund money to provide retention and recruitment […]
Arkansas lawmakers OK funding for Camden hospital, continue debate on federal pandemic relief
Arkansas legislators on Friday approved a request from the state Department of Human Services for up to $6 million in federal pandemic relief funding to support a Camden hospital at risk of closing. However, the Arkansas Legislative Council also sent three of four committee-approved projects back to its Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review subcommittee. Some […]
Legislators authorize $65 million in recovery funds for school districts
Another $65.6 million in federal relief funds will be disbursed to 23 school districts following approval by an Arkansas Legislative Council subcommittee Tuesday. This was the fifth round of plans reviewed by lawmakers. The Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review panel began reviewing districts’ use of American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund […]
Lawmakers approve $188 million in relief funds for schools in third review round
An Arkansas Legislative Council subcommittee approved the disbursal of $188 million in federal relief funds to 44 school districts Thursday. This was the third round of plans reviewed by lawmakers. Today’s authorization by the Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review panel is part of the council’s continued efforts to review districts’ use of American Rescue Plan […]
Fix for underfunded Arkansas tire recycling program must wait for legislative review
A stop-gap measure to keep Arkansas’ tire recycling program running fell through on Friday, meaning scrap tire piles will keep growing in large sections of the state. A request from the Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality for $1 million from state savings to shore up the Arkansas Used Tire Recycling and Accountability Act Program was […]
Legislative committee OKs salary bump for Arkansas PBS chief
The personnel committee of the Arkansas Legislative Council unanimously approved a salary increase to $180,000 for Courtney Pledger, executive director and CEO of Arkansas PBS. That amounts to a $27,418 raise over her current salary of $152,582. John Brown, chairman of the Arkansas PBS Commission, told committee members Wednesday that the network’s programming quality had […]