SB374

Senate Bill 374 amends the Arkansas civil service system regulations specifically concerning municipal police and fire departments. The bill shifts authority for determining the timing, date, and frequency of employment examinations from the civil service commission to the chiefs of the respective departments. It explicitly limits the role of the commission in these examinations, prohibiting them from conducting interviews or proctoring tests, though they retain observer status. Additionally, the bill modifies the notification requirements for vacancy-related examinations and extends the probationary period for promotions within these departments from six months to twelve months. It also codifies the authority of city governing bodies to eliminate or defund positions, which would supersede the requirement to hold examinations for vacancies.