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SB 13

AN ACT FOR THE JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE AND DISABILITY COMMISSION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR.

2026 Fiscal Session

The bill appropriates $804,239 for FY2026-2027 to fund the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission, including staff salaries and operating expenses, with an emergency effecti

Notification that SB13 is now Act 66
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Bill Summary · SB 13

Summary of SB 13 (Session 2026F, Arkansas) – Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission Appropriation for FY2027

Purpose and Intent

  • SB 13 is an appropriation bill establishing and funding the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission (JDDC) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027.
  • The act provides for the allocation of funds to support personal services (staff salaries) and operating expenses for the JDDC and sets the total appropriation amount and the approved staffing slate for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
  • An emergency clause indicates the funding is considered necessary for immediate operation, effective July 1, 2026.

Key Provisions and Changes

Section 1 – Regular Salaries and Authorized Staffing

  • Establishes the maximum number of regular employees and a corresponding salary grade for each for FY 2026-2027:
    1. JDDC Director – 1 position, Grade SPC08
    2. Fiscal Support Supervisor/Expert – 1 position, Grade SGS07
    3. Legal Support Specialist – 1 position, Grade SGS06
    4. Investigator II – 1 position, Grade SGS05
    5. Administrative Coordinator – 1 position, Grade SGS04
    6. Attorney II – 1 position, Grade SPC05
  • Total maximum regular employees: 6

Section 2 – Appropriation (Operations)

  • Provides the specific budgeted amounts for FY2026-2027 to the JDDC, payable from the Miscellaneous Agencies Fund Account, for personal services and operating expenses:
    • Regular Salaries: $426,018
    • Personal Services Matching: $145,376
    • Maintenance & General Operations:
    • Operating Expense: $116,150
    • Conference & Travel: $15,875
    • Professional Fees: $72,740
    • Capital Outlay: $0
    • Data Processing: $0
    • Investigator Expenses: $28,080
  • Total Appropriation: $804,239

Section 3 – Compliance with Other Laws

  • Disbursements must align with the appropriation and applicable state laws and regulations (Procurement Law, GAAP, Revenue Stabilization, Regular Salaries Procedures and Restrictions Act, etc.). Agencies must adhere to DFA regulations and other fiscal control laws.

Section 4 – Legislative Intent

  • Reaffirms that funds must be used for the purposes stated in agency budget materials, including agency requests, executive recommendations, and legislative recommendations, as documented in budget manuals and official minutes or summaries.

Section 5 – Emergency Clause

  • Declares an emergency to ensure immediate effectiveness on July 1, 2026, citing the constitutional limitation on multi-year appropriations and the need for uninterrupted operation.

Who is Affected

  • The Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission (JDDC) will be funded and staffed under the specified slate for FY 2026-2027.
  • Potentially affected parties include JDDC personnel, related state agencies (as funders and overseers), and practitioners who interact with or are subject to JDDC oversight (e.g., judges, lawyers) due to the commission’s disciplinary and disability-related responsibilities.

Timeline and Fiscal Impact

  • Effective date: July 1, 2026 (emergency clause ensures immediate effect).
  • Fiscal Year Covered: 2026-2027.
  • Total annual appropriation: $804,239 (split among salaries, matching, operating expenses, and investigator expenses).
  • The bill is self-contained to the 2026-2027 fiscal year and does not prescribe long-range funding beyond that period within the text provided.

Notable Legal and Procedural Points

  • Funds are subject to standard state procurement and fiscal rules.
  • The act emphasizes alignment with the stated budget requests and legislative recommendations, ensuring transparency and traceability of appropriations.

If you’d like, I can provide a plain-language briefing comparing this appropriation to prior years or outline potential budgetary implications for related state agencies.

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

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