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ArkansasSB222026 Fiscal SessionSenate

AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR.

Sponsored By: Joint Budget Committee

Enacted

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Funding for Arkansas child services staff

For July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, the law sets aside about $148 million for Arkansas child services operations. It allows up to 1,420 regular staff positions and 65 temporary or part-time positions. Payroll funding includes about $62.63 million for salaries, $27.01 million for employer benefit costs, and $5.06 million for overtime. Temporary staff pay gets about $1.23 million. Other funding includes about $17.19 million for operating costs, $33.24 million for professional services, and $1.60 million for computer services. Travel and conferences get $39,011. The state's Chief Fiscal Officer chooses the paying account. Spending cannot exceed approved amounts or available funds, and must follow state purchasing, budget, and salary rules. This funding does not itself change pay rates or create household payments.

Funding for children in foster care

For July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, the law funds two sources of foster care grants. It sets aside about $54.01 million from the Children and Family Services Fund Account. Another $102.91 million funds foster care grants through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF. The state's Chief Fiscal Officer chooses the paying account for the TANF grants. These funds support foster care services without changing household eligibility rules or setting individual payment amounts.

Funding to prevent child abuse

The law sets aside $214,799 from the Children's Trust Fund for July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. This includes $197,029 for grants and loans to develop or run child abuse prevention programs. Another $17,770 covers operating costs for the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board. The funding supports prevention work rather than creating a set payment to households.

Service funding for sexually exploited children

The law sets aside $50,000 for services and treatment for sexually exploited children. The funding covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. It comes from the Safe Harbor Fund for Sexually Exploited Children and funds grants to Children's Advocacy Centers statewide. The grants support service providers, not set payments to households.

Treatment funding for children needing residential care

The law sets aside about $10.65 million for children's residential treatment grants from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The money comes from the Children and Family Services Fund Account. It supports treatment services without changing individual eligibility rules or setting household payment amounts.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Joint Budget Committee

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 129 • No: 0

House vote • 4/23/2026

House Vote - Thursday, April 23, 2026 11:39:14 AM

Yes: 95 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/22/2026

Senate Vote - Wednesday, April 22, 2026 1:40:10 PM

Yes: 34 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Notification that SB22 is now Act 77

    4/27/2026Senate

  2. DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.

    4/24/2026Senate

  3. Reported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.

    4/24/2026Senate

  4. ORDERED ENROLLED

    4/23/2026Senate

  5. Returned from the House as passed.

    4/23/2026Senate

  6. Returned To Senate as Passed.

    4/23/2026House

  7. EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED

    4/23/2026House

  8. Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.

    4/23/2026House

  9. Considered in the Committee of the Whole, and recommended do pass.

    4/23/2026House

  10. RULES SUSPENDED

    4/23/2026House

  11. Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and placed on the CALENDAR.

    4/22/2026House

  12. RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE

    4/22/2026House

  13. Ordered Immediately transmitted to the House.

    4/22/2026Senate

  14. EMERGENCY CLAUSE ADOPTED

    4/22/2026Senate

  15. Read the third time and passed.

    4/22/2026Senate

  16. Returned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass

    4/21/2026Senate

  17. Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

    4/8/2026Senate

  18. Filed

    4/1/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • SB22 - Introduced

    4/1/2026

    PDF

  • Act Version

    PDF

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