Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that increases the powers and duties of the Department of Education in Arkansas.

Highlights:

• Repeals the Arkansas Educational Television Commission and its authority and duties (Sec. 1).

• Repeals the Arkansas Educational Television Commission’s statutory power (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that rules, orders, directives, licenses, and standards by the Commission made before the effective date of this bill are still in effect, unless repealed or amended by the Department of Education (Sec. 1).

• Repeals the State Library Board and its authority and duties (Sec. 2).

• Repeals the statutory powers of the State Library Board (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that rules, orders, directives, licenses, and standards by the Board made before the effective date of this bill are still in effect, unless repealed or amended by the Department of Education (Sec. 2).

• Amends the name of Arkansas Code Title 6, Chapter 3 from “Arkansas Educational Television Commission” to “Arkansas Educational Television” (Sec. 3).

• Repeals the legislation regarding the Arkansas Educational Television Commission (Sec. 4). 

• Authorizes the Department of Education to contract with other educational institutions within the state for the employment of employees from the other educational institutions (Sec. 5).

• Requires the Department to use funds for the regular salaries of Department employees for the salaries of additional hired employees from other educational institutions (Sec. 5).

• Authorizes the Department of Education to survey, study, and appraise overall plans for the use of television facilities for noncommercial, state educational use (Sec. 5).

• Requires the Department to control and supervise the use of television channels reserved by the Federal Communications Commission to the state for noncommercial educational use (Sec. 5).

• Authorizes the Department to designate the location of stations to use noncommercial, state educational television channels (Sec. 5).

• Authorizes the Department to own, operate, or contract with television stations to utilize the noncommercial, state educational television channels (Sec. 5).

• Authorizes the Department of Education to execute all contracts necessary to facilitate the mandates of this bill (Sec. 5).

• Authorizes the Department to solicit and accept (Sec. 5):

• Gifts;

• Grants;

• Money;

• Real or personal property; and

• Voluntary and uncompensated services.

• Authorizes the placement of any money donated to the Department to be placed in a bank within the state for use by the Department (Sec. 5).

• Exempts the Department from responsibility for the following after the furnishing of equipment (Sec. 5):

• Additional reception problems; or

• Replacement of any of the furnished equipment.

• Authorizes the Department to establish a revolving cash fund in any bank authorized to do business in the state of Arkansas (Sec. 5).

• Authorizes the Department to expend monies from the revolving fund to purchase instructional materials for sale to schools for educational television purposes (Sec. 5).

• Requires the Department to maintain a complete record of receipts and expenditures from the fund for the Arkansas Legislative Audit (Sec. 5).

• Repeals legislation regarding appropriations for state employees in relation to the Arkansas Educational Television Commission (Sec. 6).

• Authorizes the Department of Education to arrange the use of its facilities to implement and administer the mandate of this bill (Sec. 7).

• Requires state agencies and educational institutions to have preference for the use of the Department of Education’s facilities, including a preferential rate for any fees or charges assessed (Sec. 7).

• Exempts the Department of Education from the general provisions of any other law regarding public commodities and facilities (Sec. 7).

• Requires any revenue by the Department from the use of its facilities to be placed into the revolving cash fund (Sec. 7).

• Authorizes the Department to utilize the right of eminent domain to obtain any real property leased or rented by the Department, if the property would be desirable for the production of educational television for the state (Sec. 7).

• Requires the Department to bring any suits for the condemnation of real property in the name of the state (Sec. 7).

• Authorizes the Department to make payment for real property acquired through the exercise of eminent domain (Sec. 7).

• Requires eminent domain suits by the Department to be brought up in the county wherein the property is located (Sec. 7).

• Authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Education or a designee to administer state and federal programs of aid to libraries (Sec. 8).

• Requires the State Library to be led by a State Librarian appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Education (Sec. 9).

• Requires the State Librarian to have the following qualifications (Sec. 9):

• Good professional standing and reputation;

• At least a master’s degree from a graduate school of library science accredited by the American Library Association; and

• Library administration experience in academic, public school, or special libraries.

• Requires the State Library to follow any rules established by the Department of Education (Sec. 11).

• Requires the Department of Education to determine the scope and services of the Arkansas State Library (Sec. 13).

• Authorizes the State Library to enter into agreements with the State Archives through the Department of Education (Sec. 14).

• Requires a copy of annual reports on library trustees to be filed with the Department of Education (Sec. 15).

• Authorizes the Department of Education to use the Educational Television Fund (Sec. 18).

Full Bill Text