Senate Bill 722 Summary

• Transfers the State Board of Election Commissioners to the Office of the Secretary of State as a type 1 transfer, maintaining the board's existing statutory powers, authorities, duties, and functions independently of the Secretary of State

• Reassigns board authority to the Secretary of State for publishing candidate election handbooks and conducting statewide training for election officers, with the Secretary of State determining which suggestions are helpful to candidates

• Changes legal assistance provision from the Attorney General to an attorney designated by the Secretary of State for answering election law questions

• Redirects fines collected by the board from the State Treasury general revenues to the County Voting System Grant Fund under Arkansas Code § 19-5-1247

• Declares an emergency and makes the transfer effective July 1, 2013, citing the need to complete the transfer before the 2013 annual school election