Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
Act 751 of the Regular Session
*SSS094* 04-03-2025 10:49:13 SSS094
State of Arkansas As Engrossed: H4/3/25 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 of 22
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 April or 26
the first Monday in October, or both, and more often if necessary under such 27
rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the board shall be held as 28
needed by the chief of the fire department or police department who shall 29
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 As Engrossed: H4/3/25 SB374
2 04-03-2025 10:49:13 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
/s/B. Davis 29
30
31
APPROVED: 4/17/25 32
33
34
35
36