Arkansas Senate Bill 12 Summary

• Expands prohibition on "divisive concepts" to include public schools, open-enrollment charter schools, and education service cooperatives, building on existing restrictions for state entities.

• Defines "divisive concepts" as eight specific ideological positions including claims that one race or sex is superior, that the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist, or that meritocracy is racist.

• Establishes $10,000 daily penalties for violations, payable to the Arkansas State Claims Commission and directed to the Succeed Scholarship Program fund.

• Allows any individual to file complaints with the Arkansas State Claims Commission within one year of alleged violations and requires prevailing claimants receive attorney's fees, witness fees, and other costs.

• Takes effect January 1, 2022, with an emergency clause citing harm to children from propagating divisive concepts and negative effects on state agency staff recruitment.