AR Code § 21-1-610 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 21 - Public Officers and Employees|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|Subchapter 6 - Arkansas Whistle-Blower Act|§ 21-1-610. Reward to state employee when communication of waste or violation results in savings of state funds — Definitions

 (a) As used in this section:  (1) “State employee” means a person who performs a full-time or part-time service for wages, salary, or other remuneration for a state employer; and  (2) “State employer” means:  (A) An agency, department, board, commission, division, office, bureau, council, authority, or other instrumentality of the State of Arkansas, including without limitation the:  (i) Offices of the various Arkansas elected constitutional officers; and  (ii) General Assembly and its agencies, bureaus, and divisions; or    (B) A state-supported college, university, technical college, community college, or other institution of higher education or department, division, or agency of a state institution of higher education.      (b) A state employee making a communication under § 21-1-603 shall be eligible to receive a reward in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of any savings in state funds attributable to changes made based on a communication under § 21-1-603.  (c) Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, upon the resolution of a matter communicated to an appropriate authority under § 21-1-603, the appropriate authority shall provide a written report detailing the content of the communication and the outcome of the communication to the:  (1) State employee who made the communication; and  (2) State employer that was the subject of the communication.    (d) After receiving a written report under subsection (c) of this section, a state employer shall:  (1) Document the savings in state funds attributable to changes made based on the communication filed under § 21-1-603 for one (1) full fiscal year; and  (2)  (A) Within thirty (30) days of the end of the first full fiscal year in which the changes made based on the communication filed under § 21-1-603 were implemented, issue a report containing:  (i) The total savings in state funds resulting from the communication under § 21-1-603 for the first full fiscal year in which the changes were implemented;  (ii) The name of the state employee who made the communication resulting in the savings of state funds; and  (iii) The amount of the reward for which the state employee is eligible. The amount of the reward shall be equal to ten percent (10%) of the total savings in state funds reported under subdivision (d)(2)(A)(i) of this section. If the state employer concludes that the state employee is not eligible for a reward, the state employer shall state the reasons for that determination in the report.    (B) A report under subdivision (d)(2)(A) of this section shall be submitted to the:  (i) Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review Subcommittee of the Legislative Council or, if the General Assembly is in session, the Review/PEER Subcommittee of the Joint Budget Committee;  (ii) State employee who made the communication under § 21-1-603 unless the state employee has elected to maintain confidentiality under subsection (g) of this section. The report to the state employee shall include a notice to the state employee of the right to an appeal under subsection (e) of this section; and  (iii) Clerk of the Arkansas State Claims Commission.        (e)  (1) A state employee may appeal to the Arkansas State Claims Commission in the same manner for filing a claim under § 19-10-208 if the state employee believes that:  (A) A report under subdivision (d)(2)(A) of this section does not accurately reflect the savings attributable to the changes made based on the communication under § 21-1-603; or  (B) The state employer did not accurately assess the determination of a reward under this section, including without limitation denying a reward to the state employee.    (2) A state employee who pursues an appeal under subdivision (e)(1) of this section is granted the same protection provided to a public employee under § 21-1-603.  (3)  (A) A written request for an appeal under subdivision (e)(1) of this section shall be filed within forty (40) days of the submission of the report under subdivision (d)(2)(A) of this section.  (B) An appeal to the commission under subdivision (e)(1) of this section shall follow the rules and procedures of the commission.    (4) In an appeal to the commission, a state employee shall have the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the:  (A) Amount of savings reported by the state employer under subdivision (d)(2)(A) of this section does not accurately reflect the savings attributable to the changes made based on the communication under § 21-1-603; or  (B) State employer did not accurately assess the determination of a reward under this section.    (5)  (A) The decision of the commission in a matter appealed under this subsection may be appealed only to the Claims Review Subcommittee of the Legislative Council or, if the General Assembly is in session, the Claims Subcommittee of the Joint Budget Committee.  (B)  (i) Notice of appeal under subdivision (e)(5)(A) of this section shall be filed with the commission within forty (40) days after the commission renders a decision.  (ii) The commission, in a timely manner, shall notify the Legislative Council or the Joint Budget Committee and all parties to the matter when a notice of appeal to the Claims Review Subcommittee of the Legislative Council or Claims Subcommittee of the Joint Budget Committee is filed with the commission.  (iii) When the commission notifies parties of a decision of the commission, it shall advise the parties of the right of appeal.        (f)  (1)  (A) Except as provided in subdivision (f)(2) of this section, within thirty (30) days of the end of the period for appeal under subdivision (e)(3)(A) of this section or the resolution of an appeal under subsection (e) of this section, whichever is later, the clerk of the commission shall notify a state employer of the amount of a reward to be paid to a state employee.  (B) Upon receipt of notification under subdivision (f)(1) of this section, the state employer shall deliver a check to the clerk of the commission who shall deposit the same as a nonrevenue receipt into the Miscellaneous Revolving Fund from which he or she shall disburse the amount of the reward to the state employee.    (2)  (A) No reward under this section shall be paid in excess of twelve thousand five hundred dollars ($12,500).  (B) If the amount of a reward is greater than twelve thousand five hundred dollars ($12,500), the reward shall be referred to the General Assembly for an appropriation.  (C) If a reward is appropriated to a state employer for the benefit of a state employee, it shall be paid from the funds available to the state employer.      (g)  (1) A state employee wishing to maintain confidentiality under § 21-1-607 or who otherwise chooses to forego a reward under this section shall request to the appropriate authority that the report under subsection (c) of this section not include the state employee's name or identifying information.  (2) A state employee making a request under subdivision (g)(1) of this section shall not receive a reward under this section.  (3) The name and identifying information of a state employee who requests confidentiality under subdivision (g)(1) of this section is not disclosable under applicable state or federal law.    (h)  (1) Except as provided in subdivisions (h)(2) and (3) of this section, a reward under this section shall not be payable for a communication made by a state employee in the normal course of the state employee's job duties.  (2) If a communication in the normal course of a state employee's job duties detailing waste or a violation is not acted upon by the state employer within ninety (90) days, the state employee may make a communication under § 21-1-603 to an appropriate authority and be eligible for a reward under this section.  (3) A report by a state employee of a loss of public funds under § 25-1-124 shall be considered a communication in the normal course of the state employee's job duties if the state employee:  (A) Handles or exerts control over the funds of the state employer;  (B) Participates in making decisions or recommendations concerning the deposit, investment, or expenditure of the funds of the state employer; or  (C) Is responsible for auditing the funds of the state employer.