The bill seeks to amend various laws governing higher education in Arkansas, notably by formally establishing the Arkansas Research Education and Optical Network as a state entity. Key changes include the repeal of affirmative action program requirements and related reporting obligations at higher education institutions, as well as the elimination of laws addressing duplication of services among these institutions. The Comprehensive Arkansas Higher Education Annual Report will also be modified to exclude references to affirmative action program plans. Additionally, the bill introduces new provisions for the governance and operational framework of the Arkansas Research Education and Optical Network, which aims to enhance high-speed optical communications for higher education and healthcare institutions.

Further amendments focus on employment practices at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, including the removal of "unclassified" position references concerning overtime and incentive pay, thus broadening eligibility for these benefits. The Board of Trustees is granted the authority to offer special compensation allowances for registered nurses and to sell donated land. The bill also adjusts reporting requirements for equal employment hiring programs and clarifies that employee benefits and sick leave provisions apply to all employees of state-supported institutions, regardless of classification, while streamlining leasing responsibilities for these institutions.

Statutes affected:
SB 358: 6-60-703(b), 6-61-141, 6-61-221(d), 6-62-314, 19-4-1415(b), 6-62-606(b), 6-63-103, 6-63-321, 6-64-218, 19-4-1415(c), 21-3-101(b), 21-4-203(12), 21-4-503, 21-4-501, 21-4-504, 6-58-105, 6-59-105, 21-4-505, 24-4-101, 21-4-207, 22-2-114(c)