The bill amends various sections of Arkansas law concerning school elections and the terms of members of local school boards of directors. Key changes include adjusting the length of directors' terms from a range of three to five years to a fixed four-year term, and establishing that members may serve a maximum of sixteen consecutive years in office. Additionally, the bill modifies the election process to ensure that an equal number of positions are filled every two years, rather than annually. It also introduces provisions for the election of school board members to be conducted on a partisan basis, as opposed to the previous nonpartisan approach.

Further amendments include the requirement for school district boards to establish initial terms by lot at their first meeting, and the stipulation that candidates for school board positions must file their candidacy through a political party nomination, in addition to the existing petition and notice of write-in candidacy options. The bill also clarifies the election process for unopposed candidates and updates the definition of general or special elections to include school board elections. Overall, these changes aim to streamline the election process and clarify the terms and conditions under which school board members are elected in Arkansas.

Statutes affected:
Old version SB206 V2 - 2-16-2023 09:46 AM: 6-13-608, 02-16-2023, 6-13-617(a), 6-13-615(d), 6-13-631(d), 6-13-631(e), 6-14-102(c), 6-14-111(a), 6-14-111(c), 6-14-111(e), 6-14-111(h), 6-14-111(k), 6-61-520(c), 7-1-101(16)
SB 206: 6-13-608, 02-16-2023, 6-13-617(a), 6-13-615(d), 6-13-631(d), 6-13-631(e), 6-14-102(c), 6-14-111(a), 6-14-111(c), 6-14-111(e), 6-14-111(h), 6-14-111(k), 6-61-520(c), 7-1-101(16)