HB1461
To Amend The Law Concerning The Evaluation Of Necessity Of Various Commissions And Boards.
AI-Generated Summary
This bill proposes amendments to existing Arkansas law concerning the evaluation of the necessity of various state commissions and boards. It redefines "state board or commission" to exclude constitutional boards and entities of the General Assembly. The bill introduces new criteria for abolishing state boards or commissions that have failed to meet regularly or have lacked a quorum for a specified number of consecutive meetings within a two-year period. It mandates that the Joint Performance Review Committee reevaluate such inactive or non-functional entities. State boards and commissions will be required to submit reports on their meeting dates and member attendance to the Joint Performance Review Committee annually. Failure to submit these reports or to meet quorum requirements can lead to the suspension of a board's authority, and in persistent cases, the Joint Performance Review Committee can direct the drafting of legislation to abolish these entities. The bill also outlines procedures for reporting abolitions and the reversion of funds and authority. It clarifies that the abolition of a board does not typically affect pre-existing rights, liabilities, or proceedings. The provisions for reevaluation and potential abolition also extend to constitutional boards and commissions under certain inactivity criteria.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries of this bill would be the Arkansas General Assembly and its oversight committees, such as the Joint Performance Review Committee and the Legislative Council, as they would gain enhanced mechanisms for reviewing and potentially streamlining state government operations. The citizens of Arkansas could also indirectly benefit from more efficient government by the removal of defunct or inactive commissions and boards, potentially leading to a reduction in operational costs. State agencies that are more active and functional might also benefit from a clearer landscape of governmental entities.
Who Might Suffer?
The entities most directly and negatively impacted by this bill would be state boards and commissions that have become inactive or fail to meet quorum requirements. This includes those that have not convened meetings or have consistently lacked sufficient members for official business over a two-year period. Such boards, if they cannot rectify their attendance or meeting issues, face potential abolition, suspension of their authority, and the reversion of their funds and powers. The members of these inactive boards would also be negatively impacted as their positions and the functions of their respective bodies could be eliminated.