§ 15-4-3224 - Public reporting requirements. - Arkansas Statutes

15-4-3224. Public reporting requirements.

(a) The reports delivered to the General Assembly under 15-4-3203(i)(2) and (3) shall be available to the general public under the same policies and procedures that generally apply with respect to reports to the General Assembly.

(b) (1) During the term of an Amendment 82 agreement, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission shall provide a report to the Legislative Council no less frequently than annually with respect to the status of the applicable qualified Amendment 82 project which details the sponsor's compliance with the provisions of the Amendment 82 agreement.

(2) At a minimum, the commission's report shall address:

(A) A description of the infrastructure needs and other needs provided by the state under Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 82, and this subchapter and costs associated with each item;

(B) A description of how the sponsor has satisfied the investment and job creation requirements of the Amendment 82 agreement, including performance benchmarks and economic goals as specifically defined in the Amendment 82 agreement;

(C) The number of jobs created by each qualified Amendment 82 project and average hourly wages for each project;

(D) A description of the benefits package, including, without limitation, health and retirement benefits received by hourly employees;

(E) A comparison of the total number of new jobs and annual payroll by the sponsor pertaining to the qualified Amendment 82 project on the date the Amendment 82 agreement was executed and the end date of the calendar year before the filing of this report; and

(F) The application of any penalties for failure of the sponsor to satisfy its commitments under an Amendment 82 agreement.

(c) At the end of a ten-year period following the beginning of operation of the Amendment 82 project, the General Assembly may request a third party cost-benefit analysis to accurately determine the total project costs and the total benefits received by the state from the qualified Amendment 82 project.

(d) While Amendment 82 bonds are outstanding, the Arkansas Development Finance Authority shall provide a report to the Legislative Council, no less frequently than annually, with respect to the status of the Amendment 82 bonds. The report shall contain the information required by 19-9-502.

(e) During the term of an Amendment 82 agreement, the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State shall provide a report to the Legislative Council, no less frequently than annually, with respect to the dates and costs of all economic incentives received by each qualified Amendment 82 project except as restricted by law.