SB 543 — TO AMEND ARKANSAS LAW CONCERNING SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARDS OF DIRECTORS AND AMENDING A PORTION OF LAW RESULTING FROM INITIATED ACT 1 OF 1990.

Bill Text

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends various provisions related to school district boards of directors, enhancing regulations on vacancies, oaths, executive sessions, and ethical guidelines.

• Arkansas Code § 6-13-611(a)(5)

  felony → Felony

  The change capitalizes 'Felony' to maintain consistency in legal terminology.

• Arkansas Code § 6-13-617

  notify Notify the superintendent of the school district by phone that the individual has subscribed to the director's oath and that the county clerk has accepted the certification of the administration of the oath; and → notify the superintendent of the school district by phone that the individual has subscribed to the director's oath and that the county clerk has accepted the certification of the administration of the oath; and

  The change corrects capitalization and removes redundancy.

• Arkansas Code § 6-13-617

  shall send Send a copy of the certificate of the administration of the oath to the school district’s central office within five (5) days; → shall send a copy of the certificate of the administration of the oath to the school district’s central office within five (5) days;

  The change corrects capitalization.

• Arkansas Code § 6-13-617

  (2)(3) By the close of business of the day following the receipt of the certification of the administration of the oath, the county clerk or his or her designee shall either: → (2)(3) By the close of business of the day following the receipt of the certification of the administration of the oath, the county clerk or his or her designee shall either:

  The change corrects numbering for clarity.

• Arkansas Code § 6-13-619

  (e)(1) In addition to the circumstances in which an executive session is permitted under the Freedom of Information Act of 1967, § 25-19-101 et seq., the board of directors may meet in executive session for the purposes of: (A) Pre-litigation discussions; (B) Litigation updates; (C) The discussion and consideration of settlement offers; (D) The discussion and consideration of contract disputes with the superintendent of the school district; (E) Discussions pertaining to real property.

  This addition expands the permissible reasons for conducting executive sessions by school boards.

• Arkansas Code § 6-24-104

  use Use → use

  The change fixes capitalization in a prohibition against misuse of official position.

• Arkansas Code § 6-24-104

  Accept → accept

  The change fixes capitalization in a prohibition against accepting employment that creates conflicts of interest.

• Arkansas Code § 6-24-115

  In addition, the court may fine the violator in any sum not to exceed the greater of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or double the dollar amounts involved in the transactions, sentence the violator to prison for not more than five (5) years, or impose both a fine and imprisonment. → In addition, the court may fine the violator in any sum not to exceed the greater of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or double the dollar amounts involved in the transactions, sentence the violator to prison for not more than five (5) years, or impose both a fine and imprisonment.

  The change maintains the existing penalty structure for violations.

• Arkansas Code § 6-24-116

  At the request of a board of a public educational entity, the executive administrator at a public educational entity, the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Arkansas Ethics Commission, or the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee, the appropriate prosecuting attorney shall review contracts or transactions for compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

  This addition clarifies the request process for reviewing contracts or transactions related to public educational entities.

• Arkansas Code § 6-24-117

  If a board member is found guilty of violating the provisions of this chapter and any appeals regarding the finding of guilt have been concluded, the board member shall immediately cease to be a board member, the position is declared vacant, and a replacement shall be named as provided by law in § 6-13-611.

  This addition clearly specifies the consequence of a board member's conviction on their position.

• Arkansas Code § 6-24-118

  It → Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, it

  This change introduces a conditional clause regarding the duty of prosecuting attorneys.

Action History

1. April 13, 2023

   Notification that SB543 is now Act 883

2. April 07, 2023

   DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.

3. April 07, 2023

   Reported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.

4. April 07, 2023

   ORDERED ENROLLED

5. April 07, 2023

   Returned from the House as passed.

6. April 07, 2023

   Returned To the Senate as passed.

7. April 07, 2023

   Read the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.

8. April 06, 2023

   Returned by the Committee Do Pass

9. April 05, 2023

   Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on EDUCATION COMMITTEE- HOUSE

10. April 04, 2023

    RECEIVED FROM THE SENATE

11. April 04, 2023

    Ordered immediately transmitted to the House.

12. April 04, 2023

    Read the third time and passed.

13. April 03, 2023

    Returned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass

14. March 30, 2023

    Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE

15. March 30, 2023

    Filed

Sponsors

• Bruce Cozart · Primary
• Kim Hammer · Primary

Votes

Subjects