§ 6-17-1118 - School Worker Defense Program Advisory Board. - Arkansas Statutes

6-17-1118. School Worker Defense Program Advisory Board.

(a) The School Worker Defense Program Advisory Board is created. The advisory board shall be composed of seven (7) members as follows:

(1) The Executive Director of the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators or his or her designee;

(2) The President of the Arkansas Rural Education Association or his or her designee;

(3) The Executive Director of the Arkansas School Boards Association or his or her designee;

(4) The Executive Director of the Arkansas Education Association or his or her designee;

(5) The designee of the Attorney General;

(6) The Director of the Department of Finance and Administration or his or her designee; and

(7) (A) The Commissioner of Education or his or her designee.

(B) Provided, however, no employee of the Department of Education who is charged with administering the defense fund and protection program shall be eligible to serve as the designee of the commissioner.

(b) Members of the advisory board shall biannually elect a chair, a vice chair, and a secretary from the membership of the advisory board, whose duties shall be those customarily exercised by those officers or specifically designated by the advisory board.

(c) (1) The advisory board shall meet within the State of Arkansas and may meet as often as it deems necessary for the purpose of carrying out its duties under the provisions of this section.

(2) A majority of the members of the advisory board shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of a meeting.

(d) (1) The advisory board shall have final authority to hear and adjudicate any appeal filed by a school worker for protection against liability pursuant to 6-17-1113.

(2) In an emergency situation, the chair of the advisory board may approve payment of a claim without a meeting of the advisory board.

(e) (1) The department may promulgate rules and regulations as necessary for the proper administration of this section to establish an advisory board.

(2) The department shall provide support staff for the advisory board.