FOI Coalition to Review Bill Proposed by AEA
At AEA’s request, the Arkansas Freedom of Information (FOI) Coalition has reviewed a bill proposed by the AEA, which would exempt education employees from the FOI Act under certain conditions. The coalition voted to be neutral on the bill; to neither support nor oppose the bill.

The FOI Coalition protects the public's right to oversee its government. The coalition consists primarily of representatives from the press, who monitor legislative dealings with exemptions from FOI. AEA is a member of the coalition.

The bill, which has not yet been filed, is titled: "An act to amend the law creating the Professional Licensure Standards Board to provide for the confidentiality of certain code of ethics proceedings and documents, and for other purposes."

This bill would exempt the following items from the FOI Act:
• All records, hearings, meetings and deliberations pertaining to an ethics complaint against an administrator or teacher.
• All records, hearings, meetings and deliberations pertaining to an ethics complaint that falls within the definition of child maltreatment under the Arkansas Child Maltreatment Act.

HB 1214 Gains Senate Approval
HB 1214 received a "do pass" from the Senate Education Committee on Monday. The bill should be on the Senate calendar for a vote this week.

This bill would remove the requirement that the Commissioner or his/her designee serve as chair of the Board. This means the Board will be allowed to select its own chair from its members. This bill would also provide that all rules, procedures, hearings and appeals relating to the Code of Ethics will be subject to the Administrative Procedures Act.

HB 1372 Remains in Senate Education Committee
HB 1372 has received unanticipated opposition and remains in the Senate Education Committee. It appears that the Arkansas Association of Education Administrators is concerned about giving the Professional Licensure Standards Board and the Arkansas State Board of Education the power to compel witnesses to testify in licensure hearings.

This bill states that the Professional Licensure and Standards Board and the Arkansas State Board of Education will have the power to issue subpoenas for testifying at hearings concerning alleged violations of the Code of Ethics.

AEA believes that this bill is necessary to ensure that all education employees have access to due process when it comes to the removal of license, and that it is a necessary and proper power of a board in the conduct of hearings regarding ethical and unethical conduct.

Please contact your senator and encourage him or her to support this bill. You may contact your senator online. Go to www.capwiz.com/nea/ar/state/main/?state=AR&view=myofficials