§ 16-7-203 - Duty and authority of state and local officers and agencies and governments. - Arkansas Statutes

16-7-203. Duty and authority of state and local officers and agencies and governments.

(a) It is the duty of all the elements of government expressed or implied by 16-7-201(3), and they are hereby authorized, to use dispute resolution processes in resolving any and all disputes, cases, or controversies in which they may be directly or indirectly involved, whether between themselves and members of the public or between any other state or local officer, agency, government, or entity of this state or of any other state or any element or entity of the federal government.

(b) The elements of government expressed or implied by 16-7-201 are authorized to use arbitration, private judging, mediation-arbitration, fact finding, mini-trials, and summary jury trials in resolving any and all disputes, cases, or controversies in which they may be directly or indirectly involved, whether between themselves and members of the public, or their employees or bona fide employee organizations, or corporations, or nonprofit organizations, or any other state or local officer, agency, government, or entity of this state or of any other state or any element or entity of the federal government, so long as the parties have agreed to participate. This subsection is permissive and not mandatory.