This bill proposes the dissolution of the Arkansas Educational Television Commission and the State Library Board, transferring their powers and duties to the Department of Education. All authority, functions, records, personnel, and unexpended funds from these entities will be absorbed by the Department of Education. The bill ensures that any existing orders, rules, or standards established by the commissions prior to their dissolution will remain in effect until amended or repealed by the Department. It also includes amendments to various sections of the Arkansas Code to remove references to the abolished commissions and introduces new provisions for the Secretary of the Department of Education to administer state and federal library aid programs.

Furthermore, the bill makes significant changes to the governance of the Arkansas State Library by eliminating references to the State Library Board and repealing specific provisions related to its responsibilities. The Department of Education will now oversee library aid programs and determine cooperation agreements with other libraries. Amendments also include changes to the filing of library trustees' annual reports and redefine the state library agency to refer to the Department of Education. Overall, the bill aims to streamline library governance by consolidating authority under the Department of Education, effectively removing the State Library Board's role in library administration.

Statutes affected:
SB 184: 6-3-101, 6-3-103, 6-3-102, 25-16-901, 6-3-104, 6-3-109, 6-3-105, 6-3-106, 6-3-107, 6-3-108, 6-3-110(a), 6-3-112, 6-3-113, 27-67-311, 13-2-204, 13-2-205, 13-2-206, 13-2-207(1), 13-2-207(10), 13-2-208(a), 13-2-209(a), 13-2-509(c), 13-2-601, 13-2-605, 19-5-304(3), 25-11-203, 25-16-903(16), 25-16-903(21), 25-43-502(14)