(a) The boards of trustees of the University of Arkansas and Arkansas State University, after seeking the advice of the Legislative Council, may make a special allowance available, in such amounts as the boards may determine are justified and equitable in view of the complexities of the duties and in consideration of the competence of individual scientists, as part of the compensation of scientists employed by the University of Arkansas or Arkansas State University in connection with any contract entered into between the University of Arkansas or Arkansas State University and the United States Government or any of its departments or agencies for conducting research and educational programs connected with the National Center for Toxicological Research at Pine Bluff, if:

(1) All of the compensation is paid from funds received by the University of Arkansas or Arkansas State University under terms of the contract; and

(2)

(A) The special allowance for any scientist and related personnel employed by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences shall not exceed an amount equal to one and one-half (11/2) that portion of his or her salary which could be paid from state funds if he or she were employed in a similar position, but unrelated to the National Center for Toxicological Research at Pine Bluff; and

(B) The special allowance for any scientist and related personnel employed by the other participating institutions shall not exceed an amount equal to that portion of his or her salary which could be paid from state funds if he or she were employed in a similar position, but unrelated to the National Center for Toxicological Research at Pine Bluff; and

(3) The Department of Higher Education will be notified of when and in what amount the special allowance will be paid prior to activation of the special allowance.

(b) In no event shall the boards of trustees of the University of Arkansas or Arkansas State University authorize or make special allowances, as provided for in this section, for more than twenty-five (25) scientist positions for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences nor more than ten (10) scientist positions for each of the other participating institutions.

(c) Furthermore, the gross salaries to be received by each of the scientists referred to above shall be limited to a maximum of seventy-three thousand four hundred sixty dollars ($73,460) from all sources for each fiscal year of the biennium.