AR HB1616

Amends Arkansas Code § 16-10-119 to clarify that both circuit court judges and district court judges are authorized travel expense reimbursement at state employee rates when performing official duties.

Revises the definition of "retired judge" in § 16-10-901 to explicitly include district court judges and municipal court judges receiving benefits under the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System, in addition to higher court judges under the Arkansas Judicial Retirement System.

Updates § 16-10-902 to specify that retired judges appointed as special judges receive compensation at one-half the rate of a regularly elected circuit court judge or district court judge, depending on which court they previously served on.

Modifies § 16-10-904 to clarify that special judges receive mileage and expense reimbursement from the Auditor of State appropriation for both circuit courts and district courts at the rates prescribed in § 16-10-119.

Act approved April 21, 2021.