Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law. *SSS094* 03/04/2025 1:20:35 PM SSS094 State of Arkansas 1 95th General Assembly A Bill 2 Regular Session, 2025 SENATE BILL 374 3 4 By: Senator B. Davis 5 By: Representative Wing 6 7 For An Act To Be Entitled 8 AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE CIVIL SERVICE 9 SYSTEM; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 10 11 12 Subtitle 13 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE CIVIL 14 SERVICE SYSTEM. 15 16 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 17 18 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code § 14-51-301(b)(3), concerning the rules and 19 regulations governing examinations for fire departments and police 20 departments, is amended to read as follows: 21 (3)(A) Public advertisement of all examinations by publication 22 of notice in some newspaper having a bona fide circulation in the city and by 23 posting of notice at the city hall at least ten (10) days before the date of 24 the examinations. 25 (B)(i) The examinations may be held on the first Monday in 26 April or the first Monday in October, or both, and more often if necessary 27 under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the board shall be 28 held as needed by the chief of the fire department or police department who 29 shall determine the: 30 (a) Time of the exams; 31 (b) Date of the exams; and 32 (c) Frequency of the exams. 33 (ii) The commission shall have only an indirect role 34 in an examination under subdivision (b)(3)(B)(i) of this section, which 35 excludes the commission from: 36 SB374 2 03/04/2025 1:20:35 PM SSS094 (a) Engaging in interviews; or 1 (b) Proctoring exams. 2 (iii) The commission may observe an examination 3 under subdivision (b)(3)(B)(i) of this section so long as the commission does 4 not interfere with the examination schedule set by the chief of the fire 5 department or police department ; 6 7 SECTION 2. Arkansas Code § 14 -51-301(b)(4)(A)(i)(b), concerning the 8 rules and regulations related to the creation of an eligibles list for fire 9 departments and police departments, is amended to read as follows: 10 (b) If the board creates an eligibles list on 11 an as-needed basis and a vacancy is created as a result of death, 12 termination, resignation, demotion, retirement, or promotion, the chief of 13 the fire department or police department shall notify the board commission 14 within five (5) business days , and the board shall schedule of the scheduling 15 of an examination to establish an eligibles list from which an appointment or 16 promotion shall be made unless the position is determined to be eliminated or 17 not funded by the governing body of the city. 18 19 SECTION 3. Arkansas Code § 14 -51-301(b)(7)(A), concerning the rules 20 and regulations governing fire departments and police departments, is amended 21 to read as follows: 22 (7)(A) A period of probation not to exceed eighteen (18) months 23 for potential fire department appointees and at least one (1) year but no 24 longer than two (2) years for potential law enforcement appointees before any 25 appointment is complete and six (6) twelve (12) months before any promotion 26 is complete. 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36