HB1175

House Bill 1175 seeks to standardize the statutory language governing municipal police and fire departments in Arkansas. It explicitly grants the 'governing body' of cities—defined as either a city council or a board of directors—the legal authority to prescribe duties, define powers, and promulgate policies for their respective police and fire departments. The bill updates statutes related to first-class cities, second-class cities, and incorporated towns to ensure consistent administrative control across different forms of municipal government. Additionally, it provides specific definitions for 'governing body' to clarify which local legislative entities hold these powers. The primary purpose is to harmonize municipal authority over public safety agencies, reducing ambiguity in existing state law.