The Arkansas general assembly meets every other year for a “Fiscal Session” to pass appropriation bills. These appropriation bills grant the authority for specific agencies/departments to spend taxpayer money on specific line-items. The “Fiscal Session” is the culmination and full legislative process for the budgeting and spending of taxpayer money. The fiscal session is only for appropriation bills, unlike the regular legislative session which takes place every other year in odd numbered years. The Arkansas constitution, Article 5, Section 5 lays out the details of the Fiscal Session and what can take place during the session. This quiz will highlight the budget requests from “the big six” that will be debated and passed during the Fiscal Session.  “The big six” are the six largest state agencies and account for the largest amount of appropriations across state government. The “Big Six” include: Department of Human Services, Department of Community Correction, Department of Correction, Department of Education, Department of Health, and Institutions of Higher Education. The “Big Six” recently had budget hearings  allowing legislators to ask questions about specific line-item spending. The “Executive Recommendation” is the Governor’s recommendation.

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Question Sources:
1. Budget Manual – Department of Community Corrections http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2017/Summary%20Budget%20Manuals/2018_0485_community_correction.pdf
2. Budget Manual – Department of Corrections http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2017/Summary%20Budget%20Manuals/2018_0480_correction.pdf
3. Budget Manual – Department of Education http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2017/Summary%20Budget%20Manuals/2018_0500_education.pdf
4. Budget Manual – Department of Health http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2017/Summary%20Budget%20Manuals/2018_0645_health.pdf
5. Budget Manual – DHS http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2017/Summary%20Budget%20Manuals/2018_0710_dhs.pdf
6. Budget Manual – Institutions of Higher Education http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2017/Summary%20Budget%20Manuals/2018-Volume-02-Universities-and-Colleges.pdf