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Committee OKs bill barring simultaneous service on public facilities boards and founding municipalities' governing bodies
Summary
Senate Bill 506 passed the committee to prohibit members of public facilities boards from also serving on the municipal governing body that created the board, a change sponsors said codifies common practice and aims to avoid conflicts of interest.
Senate Bill 506 passed the City, County & Local Affairs Committee after sponsor Senator Tucker described the bill as a short statutory change to preclude dual service that could create conflicts of interest. Tucker said the bill "amends the section dealing with public facilities boards" to bar someone serving on a public facilities board from simultaneously serving on the city council or the municipal governing body that created that board.
Tucker told the committee he expected most people would resign one post upon election to another, but said the statute should make that practice explicit. Committee members asked whether mayors or county judges would be covered; Tucker said he believed the language would reach officials who sit on the governing body. He cited a case in eastern Arkansas that prompted the bill.
No members of the public testified against the measure. After closing comments, the committee passed SB 506 by voice vote.
