§ 25-30-107 - Powers and duties of the department. - Arkansas Statutes

25-30-107. Powers and duties of the department.

(a) On April 24, 1997, the Department of Workforce Education shall become vested with and succeed to all the rights, titles, powers, interests, obligations, duties, and responsibilities of the Vocational and Technical Education Division of the Department of Education.

(b) All personnel of the Department of Workforce Education shall be employed by and serve at the pleasure of the Director of the Department of Workforce Education. Provided, nothing in this section shall be so construed as to reduce any rights or benefits of employees, including retirement benefits, that they had when employed by the Vocational and Technical Division of the Department of Education.

(c) The authority and responsibility of the State Board of Workforce Education and Career Opportunities and the Department of Workforce Education shall include general control and supervision of all programs of vocational, technical, and occupational education in secondary institutions. This authority shall apply to programs in:

(1) State technical institutes;

(2) State postsecondary vocational schools;

(3) State area vocational high school centers;

(4) State public schools; and

(5) Any other public educational facility or institution now in existence or hereafter established in the state with the exception of technical colleges, community colleges, universities, and colleges.

(d) All references in the laws of this state to the Vocational and Technical Education Division of the Department of Education shall be construed to refer to the Department of Workforce Education.