SB510

Senate Bill 510 amends Arkansas law regarding the criteria school districts must use when implementing a reduction-in-force (RIF) policy. It mandates that districts maintain written policies based on objective criteria for the layoff and recall of employees, including merit, ability, attendance, performance, and effectiveness. The bill further stipulates that certain factors, specifically seniority, length of service, professional development hours, and education level, cannot account for more than 50% of the total criteria used in these policies. This change is intended to ensure that performance-based metrics hold greater weight than longevity or traditional qualifications during workforce reductions. The bill also defines a layoff as an unavoidable reduction in the workforce beyond normal attrition.