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Rep. Unger seeks to ease gubernatorial removal of certain board members for cause
Summary
Representative Steve Unger proposed HJR 1010 to allow the Senate by two-thirds vote to remove certain board and commission members for cause after notice and hearing, modifying an existing constitutional provision (Amendment 33) that Unger described as difficult to use in practice.
Representative Steve Unger introduced House Joint Resolution 1010, which would amend the state constitution to allow the Senate, by a two-thirds vote, to remove members of certain boards and commissions for cause after notice and a hearing. Unger said the measure is aimed at reforming provisions he identified in Amendment 33 that make removal cumbersome and rarely used.
Unger reviewed section 4 of Amendment 33 in his remarks and said the current language requires the governor’s removal to be approved in writing by a majority of the board or commission, with appeals routed to Pulaski County Circuit Court and then to the Arkansas Supreme Court — requirements he called cumbersome and a barrier to removal.
Unger told the committee he prefers a legislative remedy that allows removal for cause after notice and hearing, and said he had encountered boards whose members he believed warranted removal. Representative Ray asked whether voters would view the measure as a priority; Unger said public education on the issue would be part of the effort and described it as a public-policy reform intended to strengthen legislative oversight.
No committee vote on HJR 1010 was recorded during the hearing.
