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: S1/22/25
2 95th General Assembly
A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2025 SENATE BILL 50
4
5 By: Senators J. Boyd, J. English
6 By: Representative Wing
7
8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT TO REQUIRE A LEGISLATIVE STUDY OF WORKFORCE
10 AND SOCIAL SERVICES REFORM; TO REQUIRE THE
11 CONSIDERATION OF ANY LEGISLATIVE CHANGES NECESSARY TO
12 ADDRESS ISSUES IDENTIFIED DURING THE STUDY OF
13 WORKFORCE AND SOCIAL SERVICES REFORM; AND FOR OTHER
14 PURPOSES.
15
16
17 Subtitle
18 TO REQUIRE A LEGISLATIVE STUDY OF
19 WORKFORCE AND SOCIAL SERVICES REFORM;
20 AND TO REQUIRE CONSIDERATION OF
21 LEGISLATION NECESSARY TO ADDRESS ISSUES
22 IDENTIFIED DURING THE STUDY.
23
24 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
25
26 SECTION 1. TEMPORARY LANGUAGE. DO NOT CODIFY. Legislative study of
27 workforce and social services reform -- Findings -- Scope -- Requirements.
28 (a) The General Assembly finds that:
29 (1) Arkansas needs an educated and skilled workforce for
30 employment in diverse occupations and industries;
31 (2) The Arkansas workforce is increasingly in need of access to
32 higher quality education and training programs aligned to the growing
33 technological competencies required in occupations;
34 (3) Arkansas's public workforce system is a maze of confusing
35 programs and is not meeting the challenges faced by employers and workers;
36 (4) Arkansas does not have a centralized location that includes
*JLL102* 01-22-2025 10:51:23 JLL102
As Engrossed: S1/22/25 SB50
1 a clearinghouse of the available public assistance programs, how to access
2 them, and eligibility requirements;
3 (5) The United States Congress is considering the
4 reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. �
5 3101 et seq., and new opportunities to grant states the ability to pilot
6 comprehensive innovation demonstration programs; and
7 (6) Research has shown that an integrated system of workforce
8 and social services more effectively supports the most vulnerable citizens in
9 escaping poverty through targeted support and work to achieve dignity and
10 self-sufficiency, which will not only lift individuals but also strengthen
11 Arkansas's economy.
12 (b)(1) The Hospital, Medicaid, and Developmental Disabilities Study
13 Subcommittee of the Legislative Council shall meet to conduct a study of
14 issues related to the reform of the state's workforce and social services.
15 (2) Meetings for the purpose of conducting the study required
16 under this section shall be held at least one (1) time every three (3) months
17 but may occur more often at the call of the cochairs of the Hospital,
18 Medicaid, and Developmental Disabilities Study Subcommittee of the
19 Legislative Council.
20 (c)(1) The purpose of the study required under this section is to
21 study issues and ideas related to the reform of the state's workforce and
22 social services and to consider related legislation that may be necessary to
23 remedy any issues identified during the course of the study.
24 (2) The study required under this section shall include without
25 limitation a study of:
26 (A) State models for coordinating and fully integrating
27 workforce, social services, education, child care, and healthcare programs;
28 (B) Alternative approaches that the state should consider
29 to achieve improved outcomes in workforce and social service programs,
30 including without limitation:
31 (i) Programs of the Workforce Innovation and
32 Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. � 3101 et seq., including without limitation
33 oversight for an integrated regional services delivery system;
34 (ii) The unemployment insurance program;
35 (iii) Vocational rehabilitation programs;
36 (iv) The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
2 01-22-2025 10:51:23 JLL102
As Engrossed: S1/22/25 SB50
1 program;
2 (v) The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program;
3 (vi) The Employment and Training Program for
4 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients; and
5 (vii) The Child Care Assistance Program;
6 (C) Performance outcomes of various workforce programs,
7 including without limitation an analysis of the number of common participants
8 enrolled in multiple programs across state agencies;
9 (D) The creation of an asset map that incorporates office
10 locations, case management systems, and customer intake and eligibility
11 procedures for the services and programs studied under this section; and
12 (E) Legislation that may be necessary to address any
13 issues identified in the course of the study conducted under this section.
14 (d) The Hospital, Medicaid, and Developmental Disabilities Study
15 Subcommittee of the Legislative Council may form work groups to focus on
16 specific issues or topics as needed.
17 (e) In conducting the study required under this section, the Hospital,
18 Medicaid, and Developmental Disabilities Study Subcommittee of the
19 Legislative Council may include and consider input from subject matter
20 experts, who may be used to facilitate meetings, conduct research, or provide
21 technical assistance.
22 (f)(1)(A) On or before October 1, 2026, the Hospital, Medicaid, and
23 Developmental Disabilities Study Subcommittee of the Legislative Council
24 shall file with the cochairs of the Legislative Council a final written
25 report of the activities, findings, and recommendations of the Hospital,
26 Medicaid, and Developmental Disabilities Study Subcommittee of the
27 Legislative Council under this section, including any draft legislation.
28 (B) Upon adoption of the final written report filed under
29 subdivision (f)(1)(A) of this section, the Legislative Council shall submit a
30 copy of the adopted final written report to the Governor, the Speaker of the
31 House of Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
32 (2) The final written report required under subdivision (f)(1)
33 of this section shall:
34 (A) Contain recommendations for the integration of the
35 services and programs considered during the study, including without
36 limitation any state department or agency reorganizations needed to achieve
3 01-22-2025 10:51:23 JLL102
As Engrossed: S1/22/25 SB50
1 desired outcomes for the people of Arkansas; and
2 (B) Address the following key components:
3 (i) How current services and programs are organized
4 and administered at the state agency level;
5 (ii) A vision for how service delivery can be
6 integrated for the benefit of all Arkansans who rely on the services and
7 programs studied, including without limitation services and programs
8 delivered at the state, regional, and local levels;
9 (iii) Opportunities for financial integration and
10 efficient methods for allocating costs across multiple services and programs;
11 (iv) Recommendations on how supportive services,
12 such as child care, trauma recovery, and health insurance, can better support
13 employment outcomes;
14 (v) Identification of efficiencies leading to cost
15 savings that can be used for enhanced services, such as increased resource
16 availability for Arkansans to access education and training; and
17 (vi) Identification of opportunities for Arkansas to
18 participate in any federally authorized workforce demonstration project,
19 including without limitation provisions requiring waiver requests.
20 (g) During the course of the study required under this section, the
21 Director of the Division of Workforce Services shall provide updates to the
22 Hospital, Medicaid, and Developmental Disabilities Study Subcommittee of the
23 Legislative Council related to efforts by the United States Congress to
24 reauthorize and reform the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29
25 U.S.C. � 3101 et seq., including without limitation opportunities to
26 incorporate recommendations contained within the final report through new
27 demonstration and waiver authority or other changes to current federal laws.
28 (h) The study required under this section expires on December 31,
29 2026.
30
31 /s/J. Boyd
32
33
34
35
36
4 01-22-2025 10:51:23 JLL102Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.