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SB 56

AN ACT FOR THE AUDITOR OF STATE - CONTINUING EDUCATION OF LOCAL OFFICIALS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR.

2026 Fiscal Session

Provides $375,000 for one-year continuing education and certification programs for five local officials groups (clerks, treasurers, collectors, coroners) in Arkansas.

Notification that SB56 is now Act 68
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Bill Summary · SB 56

Summary: SB 56 (2026F) – Arkansas Continuing Education for Local Officials

Jurisdiction: Arkansas
Session: 2026 Fiscal Session
Bill Type: Appropriation bill
Title: AN ACT FOR THE AUDITOR OF STATE - CONTINUING EDUCATION OF LOCAL OFFICIALS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR

Purpose and Intent

  • Provides targeted appropriations for maintaining and operating continuing education (CE) and certification programs for five groups of local officials: county clerks, circuit clerks, county treasurers, county collectors, and county coroners.
  • Ensures funding for the 2026-2027 fiscal year (ending June 30, 2027) to support designated CE boards and programs under the Auditor of State.

Key Provisions and Changes

  1. County Clerks – Continuing Education and Certification Program

    • Source: County Clerks Continuing Education Fund
    • Purpose: Maintain and operate the County Clerks Continuing Education Board’s CE and certification program
    • Amount for FY2026-2027: $75,000
    • Section: 1

  2. Circuit Clerks – Continuing Education and Certification Program

    • Source: County and Circuit Clerks Continuing Education Fund
    • Purpose: Maintain and operate the CE and certification program for circuit clerks
    • Amount for FY2026-2027: $75,000
    • Section: 2

  3. County Treasurers – Continuing Education

    • Source: County Treasurer's Continuing Education Fund
    • Purpose: Maintain and operate CE program for county treasurers
    • Amount for FY2026-2027: $75,000
    • Section: 3

  4. County Collectors – Continuing Education and Certification Program

    • Source: County Collector's Continuing Education Trust Fund
    • Purpose: Maintain and operate CE and certification program for county collectors
    • Amount for FY2026-2027: $75,000
    • Section: 4

  5. County Coroners – Continuing Education and Certification Program

    • Source: County Coroners Continuing Education Fund
    • Purpose: Maintain and operate CE and certification program for county coroners, run by the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training (ALEST)
    • Amount for FY2026-2027: $125,000
    • Section: 5

  6. Compliance and Administration

    • Section 6 requires funds to be disbursed in compliance with existing laws and regulations (procurement, budgeting, fiscal controls).

  7. Legislative Intent

    • Section 7 states that funds must align with agency requests, executive recommendations, and legislative considerations as documented in budget materials.

  8. Emergency Clause and Effective Date

    • Section 8 declares an emergency to ensure immediate effectiveness on July 1, 2026, to avoid operational disruptions during potential session delays.

Funding and Fiscal Details

  • Total targeted annual program funding (FY2026-2027):

    • County Clerks CE and Certification: $75,000
    • Circuit Clerks CE and Certification: $75,000
    • County Treasurers CE: $75,000
    • County Collectors CE and Certification: $75,000
    • County Coroners CE and Certification (through ALEST): $125,000
    • Aggregate: $375,000

  • Funding sources:

    • County Clerks CE Fund
    • County and Circuit Clerks CE Fund
    • County Treasurer's CE Fund
    • County Collector's CE Trust Fund
    • County Coroners CE Fund

Potential Impact

  • Local official training: Provides dedicated funding to maintain CE and certification programs for key local offices, potentially improving professional development, compliance, and standardized practices across counties.
  • Administrative efficiency: By funding CE boards, the bill supports ongoing education, which may lead to better administration of clerks’ offices, treasurers’ offices, collectors’ offices, and coroners.
  • Fiscal certainty: Establishes a one-year appropriation for FY2026-2027 with an emergency trigger to ensure timely availability of funds on July 1, 2026.

Timeline Highlights

  • FY2026-2027 appropriation period: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027
  • Effective date: July 1, 2026 (emergency clause to ensure immediate operation)

Additional Notes

  • The bill is presented as an appropriation act, with stricken/underlined formatting indicating the version of the text. It emphasizes compliance with existing state procurement and fiscal laws.
  • The bill previously advanced through committee and has an emergency clause asserting immediate effect upon passage.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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