§ 21-1-306 - Emergency interim successors for local officers. - Arkansas Statutes

21-1-306. Emergency interim successors for local officers.

(a) (1) With respect to local offices for which the legislative bodies of cities, towns, villages, townships, and counties may enact resolutions or ordinances relative to the manner in which vacancies will be filled or temporary appointments to office made, the legislative bodies are authorized to enact resolutions or ordinances providing for emergency interim successors to offices of those governmental units.

(2) The resolutions and ordinances shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this subchapter.

(b) (1) The provisions of this subsection shall be applicable to officers of political subdivisions including, but not limited to, cities, towns, villages, townships, and counties, as well as school, fire, power, and drainage districts not included in subsection (a) of this section.

(2) (A) The officers, subject to any regulations which the executive head of the political subdivision may issue, shall designate by title, if feasible, or by named person, emergency interim successors and specify their order of succession.

(B) The officer shall review and revise, as necessary, designations made pursuant to this subchapter to ensure their current status.

(C) The officer will designate a sufficient number of persons so that there will be not less than three (3) nor more than seven (7) deputies or emergency interim successors or any combination thereof, at any time.

(3) (A) In the event that any officer of any political subdivision or his or her deputy provided for pursuant to law is unavailable, the powers of the office shall be exercised, and the duties shall be discharged, by his or her designated emergency interim successors in the order specified.

(B) The emergency interim successor shall exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office to which designated until such time as a vacancy which may exist shall be filled in accordance with the Arkansas Constitution or statutes or until the officer, or his or her deputy or a preceding emergency interim successor, again becomes available to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of his or her office.