AR SJR8

Creates the Arkansas Apportionment Commission as a nine-member body appointed by the Governor (3 members), Secretary of State (3 members), and Attorney General (3 members) to handle state reapportionment following each federal decennial census.

Commission members must include at least one person educated in mathematics, one licensed attorney, and one person educated in computer-assisted cartography; members serve 10-year terms and cannot be registered lobbyists, current elected officials, or have served in such roles within two years of appointment.

Establishes reapportionment criteria the commission must consider in order: population equality, federal civil rights laws, contiguity, avoiding division of cities and counties, geographical features, compactness, and House districts within Senate districts; prohibits consideration of political affiliation, election results, incumbent residence, or non-population demographics.

Requires the Board of Apportionment (Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General) to review and approve or reject commission reports; if the board rejects the report three times, the Arkansas Supreme Court shall make the apportionment.

Amendment becomes effective January 1, 2015, and modifies existing apportionment provisions in Article 8 of the Arkansas Constitution.