The bill aims to amend Arkansas law to establish a monument on the State Capitol grounds in recognition of the desegregation of the Charleston and Fayetteville School Districts in 1954. It highlights the historical significance of these districts as the first to desegregate schools in the former Confederate States of America, following the landmark Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education. The bill outlines the intent to commemorate this achievement and provides a detailed account of the events surrounding the desegregation efforts in both districts.

To facilitate the monument's establishment, the bill creates the Charleston and Fayetteville Desegregation Memorial Monument Fund, which will consist of gifts, grants, and donations specifically for this purpose. It also amends existing laws regarding the Arkansas Capitol Grounds Monument and Memorial Preservation Fund to include this new fund. The Secretary of State is tasked with overseeing the monument's placement and design, ensuring it is situated among other monuments on the Capitol grounds.

Statutes affected:
SB 489: 19-5-1125(e)
Act 950: 19-5-1125(e)