Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Arkansas General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
1 State of Arkansas As Engrossed: S4/3/25
2 95th General Assembly
A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2025 SENATE BILL 359
4
5 By: Senator J. Petty
6
7
8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT TO MAKE AN APPROPRIATION FOR COMPREHENSIVE
10 OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAM GRANTS FOR THE DEPARTMENT
11 OF EDUCATION - DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY
12 EDUCATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2026;
13 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
14
15
16 Subtitle
17 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION -
18 DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY
19 EDUCATION OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAM
20 GRANTS APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026
21 FISCAL YEAR.
22
23 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
24
25 SECTION 1. APPROPRIATION - OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAM GRANTS. There is
26 hereby appropriated, to the Department of Education, to be payable from the
27 cash fund deposited in the State Treasury as determined by the Chief Fiscal
28 Officer of the State, for a grant program for comprehensive out-of-school
29 time programs for school aged children which shall provide evidence-based
30 academic enhancement programs and activities that align with and support
31 state curriculum standards by the Department of Education - Division of
32 Elementary and Secondary Education for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026,
33 the following:
34
35 ITEM FISCAL YEAR
36 NO. 2025-2026
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As Engrossed: S4/3/25 SB359
1 (01) OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAM GRANTS $3,900,000
2
3 SECTION 2. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS
4 CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. OUT-OF-
5 SCHOOL TIME PROGRAM GRANTS REQUIREMENTS. (a)Of the amount appropriated to
6 the Department of Education - Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
7 for Out-Of-School Time Program Grants in this act, funding shall only be made
8 available to eligible entities for comprehensive out-of-school time programs
9 for school aged children.
10 (b) Eligible programs shall be limited to applicants meeting the following
11 criteria:
12 (1) Provide out-of-school time programs during the school year to school
13 aged children;
14 (2) Provide regular activities designed for evidence-based academic
15 enhancement that aligns and supports state curriculum standards and will
16 include a minimum of two of the following five activity areas:
17 (A)STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math);
18 (B)Academic support;
19 (C)Goal setting / leadership;
20 (D)Career exposure/Workforce Readiness; and
21 (E)Community service.
22 (3) Provide activities above as a part of a comprehensive out-of-school
23 program;
24 (4) Operate for a minimum of 12 hours weekly during the school year;
25 minimum of four days per week during the calendar school year; not including
26 school breaks such as holiday or seasonal;
27 (5) Collect data on participants' demographics, attendance and program
28 participation and compile statewide aggregated data;
29 (6) Implement rigorous safety standards including employee background
30 checks, compliance with mandated reporting laws; and
31 (7) Must be a qualified 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) organization that has been
32 in operation for more than 5 years and has a record of fiscal accountability.
33 Organizations must also provide a sustainability model with a minimum of 50%
34 of funding derived from non-state resources.
35 (c)The Department of Education - Division of Elementary and Secondary
36 Education shall promulgate rules for the determination of eligibility and
2 04-03-2025 14:50:13 KMW037
As Engrossed: S4/3/25 SB359
1 administration of the Out-Of-School Time Program Grants.
2 (d)The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July 1, 2025
3 through June 30, 2026.
4
5 SECTION 3. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS. Disbursement of funds
6 authorized by this act shall be limited to the appropriation for such agency
7 and funds made available by law for the support of such appropriations; and
8 the restrictions of the State Procurement Law, the General Accounting and
9 Budgetary Procedures Law, the Revenue Stabilization Law, the Regular Salary
10 Procedures and Restrictions Act, or their successors, and other fiscal
11 control laws of this State, where applicable, and regulations promulgated by
12 the Department of Finance and Administration, as authorized by law, shall be
13 strictly complied with in disbursement of said funds.
14
15 SECTION 4. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the General
16 Assembly that any funds disbursed under the authority of the appropriations
17 contained in this act shall be in compliance with the stated reasons for
18 which this act was adopted, as evidenced by the Agency Requests, Executive
19 Recommendations and Legislative Recommendations contained in the budget
20 manuals prepared by the Department of Finance and Administration, letters, or
21 summarized oral testimony in the official minutes of the Arkansas Legislative
22 Council or Joint Budget Committee which relate to its passage and adoption.
23
24 SECTION 5. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. It is found and determined by the General
25 Assembly, that the Constitution of the State of Arkansas prohibits the
26 appropriation of funds for more than a one (1) year period; that the
27 effectiveness of this Act on July 1, 2025 is essential to the operation of
28 the agency for which the appropriations in this Act are provided, and that in
29 the event of an extension of the legislative session, the delay in the
30 effective date of this Act beyond July 1, 2025 could work irreparable harm
31 upon the proper administration and provision of essential governmental
32 programs. Therefore, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this Act
33 being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health
34 and safety shall be in full force and effect from and after July 1, 2025.
35
36 /s/J. Petty
3 04-03-2025 14:50:13 KMW037Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.