AR SB543

School board directors convicted of felonies or violations of ethical guidelines under § 6-24-101 et seq. are grounds for board position vacancy.

Directors must take oath of office within 10 days of election notice, submit certification to county clerk by deadline, and receive commission before beginning term; failure to comply results in disqualification and a holdover.

County clerk must verify oath certification meets requirements and either accept or reject it; superintendent must be notified within one business day of acceptance or rejection.

School board executive sessions may now include discussions of pre-litigation matters, litigation updates, settlement offers, superintendent contract disputes, and real property discussions, with superintendent and school district attorney permitted to attend upon board invitation.

Arkansas Ethics Commission gains authority to investigate and assess penalties for board member violations of ethics laws, with fines ranging from $50 to $3,500; prosecuting attorneys remain responsible for criminal violations while commission handles civil ethics enforcement; act becomes effective May 1, 2024.