The bill aims to amend Arkansas law to facilitate the placement of 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 establishes a dedicated fund, the Charleston and Fayetteville Desegregation Memorial Monument Fund, to support the erection and maintenance of the monument.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to include the new fund among those that can receive gifts, grants, and donations for the maintenance of specific monuments on the Capitol grounds. It mandates that the Secretary of State oversee the monument's placement and design, ensuring it is situated alongside other monuments. The bill emphasizes the importance of recognizing the challenges faced during the desegregation process and aims to honor the legacy of the Charleston and Fayetteville School Districts through this memorial.

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