HB1611 Summary

• A vacancy on a school district board occurs when a member moves outside the district, fails to attend 3 consecutive meetings or 6 meetings in a calendar year, is convicted of a felony, is called to active military duty, resigns, or dies (exceptions exist for military service and verified illness).

• When credible evidence of a violation is presented, a majority of board members must vote to appoint an independent investigator and hold a hearing with at least 15 days' notice to the questioned member, who may request an alternative hearing time or send a representative.

• At the hearing, a majority of board members excluding the challenged member acts as finder of fact, reviews evidence, and votes on whether a vacancy exists; a vacancy under attendance violations does not exist until an affirmative vote occurs.

• Vacancies are filled by majority vote of remaining directors or by county quorum court if only a minority of board members remain or the board fails to fill the vacancy within 30 days; appointed directors serve only until the next annual school election.

• The bill repeals Arkansas Code § 6-13-619(d) and § 6-13-633, consolidating vacancy procedures into § 6-13-611 and establishing uniform notification requirements within 5 days of appointment.