The bill seeks to enhance government efficiency within the Arkansas Department of Education by restructuring and repealing certain boards and commissions. Notable amendments include limiting members of the Professional Licensure Standards Board to three terms and allowing for the electronic submission of ethics complaints. The board will also establish procedures for investigating complaints, enforcing the code of ethics, and imposing sanctions for violations. A new ethics subcommittee will be introduced, featuring equal representation from teachers and administrators to oversee these processes.

Significant deletions in the bill include the repeal of the School Worker Defense Program Advisory Board and the Academic Facilities Review Board, which previously managed appeals related to school facilities and worker defense. The bill also modifies the procedures for handling ethics complaints, streamlining investigations and hearings, and allowing educators to appeal decisions made by the Professional Licensure Standards Board. Additionally, it updates the membership composition of the Commission for Arkansas Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation, clarifying the roles of its members and removing specific notification requirements and review processes that previously existed. Overall, the bill aims to create a more efficient framework for managing ethics complaints and governance within Arkansas's educational system.

Statutes affected:
HB 1941: 6-17-422(d), 6-17-428(b), 6-17-428(i), 6-17-428(q), 6-17-1113(f), 6-17-1118, 6-17-1113, 6-20-2513, 6-20-2516, 25-15-201, 6-20-2513(a), 25-16-902, 6-21-114(a)
Act 809: 6-17-422(d), 6-17-428(b), 6-17-428(i), 6-17-428(q), 6-17-1113(f), 6-17-1118, 6-17-1113, 6-20-2513, 6-20-2516, 25-15-201, 6-20-2513(a), 25-16-902, 6-21-114(a)