SB536

Senate Bill 536 proposes the complete abolition of the Arkansas State Library and the State Library Board. Under the bill, all authority, functions, records, contracts, personnel, and unexpended funds of the State Library and its board are transferred to the Arkansas Department of Education and the Arkansas State Archives. The bill repeals existing statutes that define the creation, structure, and duties of the State Library, including its responsibilities to provide services for the blind, assist in the development of local library systems, and manage collections of historical records. It also updates various cross-references in state law to reflect the transfer of these duties. The legislation includes an emergency clause, which would make the changes effective immediately upon enactment. Existing rules and standards promulgated by the abolished entities will remain in effect until amended or repealed by the Department of Education.