Department of Public Safety receives fiscal-year funding and staffing authority

The Department of Public Safety may use listed state, federal, cash, and special funds for employee pay, operations, equipment, grants, training, and claims. The funding covers the department, Arkansas State Police, crime victims programs, CLEST, the Arkansas Crime Information Center, the Arkansas Crime Lab, and related programs. Spending must stay within the listed appropriation and funds made available by law. The department must follow state purchasing, accounting, budget, salary, and other applicable fiscal-control laws. These appropriations apply for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, and the act takes effect July 1, 2026.

The department may employ up to the listed numbers of regular employees and may use authorized temporary or part-time workers when needed. The limits cover shared services, crime victims programs, Arkansas State Police, CLEST, the Arkansas Crime Information Center, and the Arkansas Crime Lab. Temporary workers must be paid from funds appropriated for that purpose. Temporary-worker pay may not exceed the applicable state classification and compensation rates or rates set by the act. The employee limits and temporary-worker authority apply during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027.

Arkansas State Police must implement a salary grid if additional General Revenue funds become available and the required budget review occurs. The possible increase covers all department employees in certified law enforcement officer classifications, including recruits. Additional General Revenue funds must become available. The Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee must review the grid before implementation. The increase may be added to a performance-based increase, and the resulting salary may exceed the classification grade maximum by no more than 20 percent. This provision applies from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.