(a) The General Assembly finds that:
(1) Cancer is one of the leading health problems and causes of death in the state;
(2) There is an immediate need for additional facilities to support research in the cause, treatment, and prevention of various types of cancer;
(3) Because the Arkansas Cancer Research Center of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is engaged in education, research, and clinical care addressing the causes, treatment, and prevention of cancer, the General Assembly has recognized the center as the official cancer institute of the State of Arkansas since its inception in 1984;
(4) It is appropriate that the center should be designated as a capital improvement project relating to healthcare services, health education, or health-related research under the Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Act, § 19-12-101 et seq.; and
(5) This subchapter provides financial resources critical to the development and construction of necessary medical facilities by authorizing the issuance of an additional series of Tobacco Settlement Revenue Bonds in support of the center.
(b) This subchapter is not intended to amend nor does it amend Initiated Act 1 of 2000, the Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Act, § 19-12-101 et seq.
(c) The purpose of this subchapter is to designate an additional capital improvement project as anticipated by § 19-12-106(b)(4) and to enact implementation legislation necessary to authorize an additional series of Tobacco Settlement Revenue Bonds to finance a portion of the additional capital improvement project as provided under § 19-12-106(g).