SB543

Senate Bill 543 amends Arkansas law regarding the conduct, ethics, and board operations of public school district directors. The bill updates the oath of office for school directors and mandates specific certification procedures for that oath to be filed with the county clerk. It expands the authorized purposes for which a school board may meet in executive session, including pre-litigation discussions, contract disputes with the superintendent, and real estate matters. The legislation clarifies and strengthens prohibitions against the misuse of official positions, including disclosing confidential information obtained during executive sessions. It adjusts criminal penalties for board members, administrators, or employees who knowingly violate these ethics laws, moving from a blanket felony charge to a structure that includes Class A misdemeanors for certain violations. Finally, the bill grants the Arkansas Ethics Commission explicit authority to supervise compliance, investigate complaints against board members, and assess penalties.