Arkansas authorizes nearly $78 million for child support enforcement

The Department of Finance and Administration may spend up to $77,949,301 on child support enforcement. The budget includes $34,922,533 for salaries, $14,167,631 for matching costs tied to staff pay, $14,535,654 for operating expenses, and $13,848,483 for computer processing and equipment. Payments come from the Child Support Enforcement Fund and cannot exceed the money legally available. Spending must follow applicable state purchasing, budgeting, and payroll rules. The law directs spending to follow the purposes reflected in the budget requests, recommendations, and legislative records. The spending authority covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

Arkansas child support enforcement may employ up to 775 regular staff and 15 temporary or part-time staff. The regular positions include child support specialists, customer service workers, and attorneys. Each listed job has its own staff limit and pay grade. Temporary or part-time staff may be hired when needed and paid from the money set aside for that purpose. Their pay cannot exceed the limits for the applicable job classification. These staffing limits apply to the 2026–2027 fiscal year.

Temporary and part-time child support enforcement positions are exempt from legal and regulatory limits on work hours. The exemption covers the temporary and part-time positions authorized for Arkansas child support enforcement. If a temporary or part-time employee works for more than seven months, the agency must report that employment to the Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee. The exemption applies from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.