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 S4/10/25
2 95th General Assembly
A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2025 SENATE BILL 362
4
5 By: Senator K. Hammer
6
7
8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT TO MAKE AN APPROPRIATION FOR GRANTS TO YOUTH
10 ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION -
11 DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR
12 THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2026; AND FOR OTHER
13 PURPOSES.
14
15
16 Subtitle
17 AN ACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION -
18 DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY
19 EDUCATION YOUTH ORGANIZATION GRANTS
20 APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL
21 YEAR.
22
23 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
24
25 SECTION 1. APPROPRIATION - YOUTH ORGANIZATION GRANTS. There is hereby
26 appropriated to the Department of Education, to be payable from the cash fund
27 deposited in the State Treasury as determined by the Chief Fiscal Officer of
28 the State, for grants to youth organizations by the Department of Education -
29 Division of Elementary and Secondary Education for the fiscal year ending
30 June 30, 2026, the following:
31
32 ITEM FISCAL YEAR
33 NO. 2025-2026
34 (01) YOUTH ORGANIZATION GRANTS $4,000,000
35
36 SECTION 2. SPECIAL LANGUAGE. NOT TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE ARKANSAS
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1 CODE NOR PUBLISHED SEPARATELY AS SPECIAL, LOCAL AND TEMPORARY LAW. YOUTH
2 ORGANIZATION GRANT REQUIREMENTS.
3 (a) A grant authorized by this act shall be awarded to a youth
4 organization that does not compel or require a person to adopt, affirm, or
5 profess an idea in violation of Title IV and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act
6 of 1964, Pub. L. No. 88-352 in accordance with any local or national
7 organization requirement that:
8 (1) Compels a person to adopt, affirm, or profess an idea in
9 violation of Title IV and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Pub. L.
10 No. 88-352, as it existed on January 1, 2025, including that:
11 (A) People of one color, creed, race, ethnicity, sex, age,
12 marital status, familial status, disability status, religion, national
13 origin, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law are
14 inherently superior or inferior to people of another color, creed, race,
15 ethnicity, sex, age, marital status, familial status, disability status,
16 religion, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by federal
17 or state law; or
18 (B) An individual should be discriminated against or
19 receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of the individual's color,
20 creed, race, ethnicity, sex, age, marital status, familial status, disability
21 status, religion, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by
22 federal or state law; or
23 (2) Requires a person or youth organization to adopt, affirm, or
24 profess an idea based on a diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative, which
25 includes:
26 (A) An office, division, department, administrator, or
27 person associated with a youth organization that has the purpose of:
28 (i) Influencing administrative, hiring, or
29 employment practices at a youth organization;
30 (ii) Promoting:
31 (a) Preferences based on race, color, sex,
32 ethnicity, or national origin;
33 (b) Differential treatment on the basis of
34 race, color, sex, ethnicity, or national origin; or
35 (c) Political or social activism to consider
36 race, color, sex, ethnicity, or national origin as factors in decision-
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1 making, except when required by federal or state law; or
2 (iii) Any promotion described under subdivision
3 (a)(2)(A)(ii) of this section that conflicts with state and federal
4 antidiscrimination laws;
5 (B) Any program, activity, applicant statement, or
6 training that promotes an activity described in subdivision (a)(2)(A)(ii) of
7 this section;
8 (C) The distribution of literature, materials, or other
9 information that promotes an activity described in subdivision (a)(2)(A)(ii)
10 of this section;
11 (D) The exposure to or distribution of materials through a
12 virtual platform that promote an activity described in subdivision
13 (a)(2)(A)(ii) of this section or that violate Title IV or Title VI of the
14 Civil Rights Act of 1964, Pub. L. No. 88-352; or
15 (E) Soliciting an individual, either in person or through
16 a virtual platform, to subscribe to or otherwise adhere to an activity
17 described in subdivision (a)(2)(A)(ii) of this section or that violates Title
18 IV or Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Pub. L. No. 88-352.
19 (b) To be eligible for a grant authorized by this act, a youth
20 organization that is affiliated with a national organization shall submit to
21 the Department of Education a letter that notifies the Department that the
22 Youth Organization's intent is comply with this Act.
23 (c) A grant authorized by this act shall be provided to a youth
24 organization that aligns with the educational goals of the Governor and
25 General Assembly.
26 (d) A youth organization eligible for a grant under this act shall
27 promote the fundamental values of a healthy home environment and engage youth
28 to become role models in their homes, hometowns, schools, state, nation, and
29 the world.
30 (e) Funding shall be made available only to eligible entities for
31 comprehensive out-of-school time programs for school-aged children.
32 (f) To be eligible for a grant under this act, a youth organization
33 shall:
34 (1) Provide out-of-school time programs during the school year
35 to school-aged children;
36 (2) Provide regular activities designed for evidence-based
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1 academic enhancement that aligns with and supports state curriculum standards
2 and includes at least two (2) of the following five (5) activity areas:
3 (A) STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math);
4 (B) Academic support;
5 (C) Goal setting and leadership activities;
6 (D) Career exposure and workforce readiness; and
7 (E) Community service opportunities.
8 (3) Provide activities under subdivision (f)(2) as part of a
9 comprehensive out-of-school program;
10 (4) Operate for a minimum of the following, which shall not
11 include designated school breaks:
12 (A) Twelve (12) hours each week during the school year;
13 and
14 (B) Four (4) days each week during the school year;
15 (5) Collect data on participants' demographics, attendance, and
16 program participation, and compile statewide aggregated data;
17 (6) Implement rigorous safety standards, including without
18 limitation employee background checks and maintaining compliance with
19 mandated reporting laws; and
20 (7)(A) Be a qualified 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) organization that
21 has a record of fiscal accountability and has a Certificate of Good Standing
22 from the Secretary of State.
23 (g)Youth Organizations holding a charter of five years or less shall be
24 eligible for a matching grant share of seventy-five (75%) using the funds
25 appropriated in this Act once certification that a twenty-five (25%) local
26 investment, or match, including an in-kind match, is made for the program.
27 (h) If at any time it is determined by the department that a youth
28 organization has not followed requirements established by this section, the
29 youth organization shall not be eligible for any future grants and the
30 Department of Education shall report the violation to the Arkansas
31 Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee.
32 (i) The Department of Education - Division of Elementary and Secondary
33 Education shall promulgate rules for the determination of eligible youth
34 organizations, the disbursement of funds, and the ongoing administration of
35 this program in accordance with the requirements of this section.
36 (j) The provisions of this section shall be in effect only from July
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1 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.
2
3 SECTION 3. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS. Disbursement of funds
4 authorized by this act shall be limited to the appropriation for such agency
5 and funds made available by law for the support of such appropriations; and
6 the restrictions of the State Procurement Law, the General Accounting and
7 Budgetary Procedures Law, the Revenue Stabilization Law, the Regular Salary
8 Procedures and Restrictions Act, or their successors, and other fiscal
9 control laws of this State, where applicable, and regulations promulgated by
10 the Department of Finance and Administration, as authorized by law, shall be
11 strictly complied with in disbursement of said funds.
12
13 SECTION 4. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the General
14 Assembly that any funds disbursed under the authority of the appropriations
15 contained in this act shall be in compliance with the stated reasons for
16 which this act was adopted, as evidenced by the Agency Requests, Executive
17 Recommendations and Legislative Recommendations contained in the budget
18 manuals prepared by the Department of Finance and Administration, letters, or
19 summarized oral testimony in the official minutes of the Arkansas Legislative
20 Council or Joint Budget Committee which relate to its passage and adoption.
21
22 SECTION 5. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. It is found and determined by the General
23 Assembly, that the Constitution of the State of Arkansas prohibits the
24 appropriation of funds for more than a one (1) year period; that the
25 effectiveness of this Act on July 1, 2025 is essential to the operation of
26 the agency for which the appropriations in this Act are provided, and that in
27 the event of an extension of the legislative session, the delay in the
28 effective date of this Act beyond July 1, 2025 could work irreparable harm
29 upon the proper administration and provision of essential governmental
30 programs. Therefore, an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this Act
31 being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health
32 and safety shall be in full force and effect from and after July 1, 2025.
33
34 /s/K. Hammer
35
36
5 04-10-2025 13:36:01 KMW038Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.