reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
AR Code § 21-1-304 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 21 - Public Officers and Employees|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|Subchapter 3 - Emergency Interim Executive and Judicial Succession Act|§ 21-1-304. Additional successors to Office of Governor

 (a) In the event that the Governor, for any of the reasons specified in the Arkansas Constitution, is not able to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of his or her office, or is unavailable, and in the event the Lieutenant Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives are not able, for any of the reasons specified in the Arkansas Constitution, to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the Office of Governor, or are unavailable, then the Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer of State, Auditor of State, or Commissioner of State Lands, in the order named, shall exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the Office of Governor until a new Governor is elected and qualified, or until one (1) of the officers who precedes him or her in the order of succession becomes available.  (b) However, no emergency interim successor to the offices mentioned in subsection (a) of this section may serve as Governor.
AR Code § 21-1-306 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 21 - Public Officers and Employees|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|Subchapter 3 - Emergency Interim Executive and Judicial Succession Act|§ 21-1-306. Emergency interim successors for local officers

 (a)  (1) With respect to local offices for which the legislative bodies of cities, towns, villages, townships, and counties may enact resolutions or ordinances relative to the manner in which vacancies will be filled or temporary appointments to office made, the legislative bodies are authorized to enact resolutions or ordinances providing for emergency interim successors to offices of those governmental units.  (2) The resolutions and ordinances shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this subchapter.    (b)  (1) The provisions of this subsection shall be applicable to officers of political subdivisions including, but not limited to, cities, towns, villages, townships, and counties, as well as school, fire, power, and drainage districts not included in subsection (a) of this section.  (2)  (A) The officers, subject to any regulations which the executive head of the political subdivision may issue, shall designate by title, if feasible, or by named person, emergency interim successors and specify their order of succession.  (B) The officer shall review and revise, as necessary, designations made pursuant to this subchapter to ensure their current status.  (C) The officer will designate a sufficient number of persons so that there will be not less than three (3) nor more than seven (7) deputies or emergency interim successors or any combination thereof, at any time.    (3)  (A) In the event that any officer of any political subdivision or his or her deputy provided for pursuant to law is unavailable, the powers of the office shall be exercised, and the duties shall be discharged, by his or her designated emergency interim successors in the order specified.  (B) The emergency interim successor shall exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office to which designated until such time as a vacancy which may exist shall be filled in accordance with the Arkansas Constitution or statutes or until the officer, or his or her deputy or a preceding emergency interim successor, again becomes available to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of his or her office.
AR Code § 21-1-307 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 21 - Public Officers and Employees|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|Subchapter 3 - Emergency Interim Executive and Judicial Succession Act|§ 21-1-307. Special emergency judges

 (a) In the event that any judge of any court is unavailable to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of his or her office and in the event no other judge authorized to act in the event of absence, disability, or vacancy or no special judge appointed in accordance with the provisions of the Arkansas Constitution or statutes is available to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office, the duties of the office shall be discharged and the powers exercised by the special emergency judges provided for in this section.  (b)  (1) The Governor shall designate, for each member of the Supreme Court, special emergency justices in the number of not less than three (3) nor more than seven (7) for each member of the court and shall specify the order of their succession.  (2) For each court of record except the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in consultation with the other members of the court shall designate special emergency judges in the number of not less than three (3) nor more than seven (7) for each judge of the courts and shall specify the order of their succession.  (3) The judge of the circuit court shall designate not less than three (3) special emergency judges for courts not of record within that circuit and shall specify their order of succession.  (4) The designating authority shall review and revise, as necessary, designations made pursuant to this subchapter to ensure their current status.    (c)  (1) The special emergency judges shall, in the order specified, exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office in case of the unavailability of the regular judge or judges or persons immediately preceding them in the designation.  (2) The special emergency judges shall discharge the duties and exercise the powers of the office until such time as a vacancy which may exist shall be filled in accordance with the Arkansas Constitution and statutes or until the regular judge or one preceding the designee in the order of succession becomes available to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office.
AR Code § 21-1-308 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 21 - Public Officers and Employees|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|Subchapter 3 - Emergency Interim Executive and Judicial Succession Act|§ 21-1-308. Formalities of taking office

 (a) At the time of their designation, emergency interim successors and special emergency judges shall take any oath which may be required for them to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office to which they may succeed.  (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person, as a prerequisite to the exercise of the powers or discharge of the duties of an office to which he or she succeeds, shall be required to comply with any other provision of law relative to taking office.
AR Code § 21-1-309 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 21 - Public Officers and Employees|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|Subchapter 3 - Emergency Interim Executive and Judicial Succession Act|§ 21-1-309. Period in which authority may be exercised

 (a) Officials authorized to act as Governor pursuant to this subchapter, emergency interim successors, and special emergency judges are empowered to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of an office as authorized in this subchapter only after an attack upon the United States, as defined in this subchapter, has occurred.  (b) At any time, the General Assembly by concurrent resolution may terminate the authority of emergency interim successors and special emergency judges to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of office as provided in this subchapter.
AR Code § 21-1-310 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 21 - Public Officers and Employees|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|Subchapter 3 - Emergency Interim Executive and Judicial Succession Act|§ 21-1-310. Removal of designees

 Until such time as the persons designated as emergency interim successors or special emergency judges are authorized to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of an office in accordance with this subchapter, including § 21-1-309, those persons shall serve in their designated capacities at the pleasure of the designating authority and may be removed or replaced by the designating authority at any time, with or without cause.
AR Code § 21-1-311 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 21 - Public Officers and Employees|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|Subchapter 3 - Emergency Interim Executive and Judicial Succession Act|§ 21-1-311. Disputes

 Any dispute concerning a question of fact arising under this subchapter with respect to an office in the executive branch of the state government, except a dispute of fact relative to the Office of Governor, shall be adjudicated by the Governor or other official authorized under the Arkansas Constitution and this subchapter to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the Office of Governor, and his or her decision shall be final.
AR Code § 21-1-401 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 21 - Public Officers and Employees|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|Subchapter 4 - Constitutional Officers and Their Spouses|§ 21-1-401. Definitions

 For purposes of this subchapter:   (1) “Constitutional officer” means Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer of State, Attorney General, Commissioner of State Lands, Auditor of State, member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, and member of the Arkansas Senate; and  (2) “State agency” means every board, commission, department, division, institution, and other office of state government whether located within the legislative, executive, or judicial branch of government and including state-supported colleges and universities.
AR Code § 21-1-403 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 21 - Public Officers and Employees|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|Subchapter 4 - Constitutional Officers and Their Spouses|§ 21-1-403. Restrictions on lease agreements, contracts, and grants

 (a) No constitutional officer may enter into any lease agreement, contract, or grant with any state agency unless:  (1) The lease agreement, contract, or grant is awarded as a result of competitive bidding or a request for proposal and the constitutional officer played no role, directly or indirectly, in the administrative:  (A) Determination of specifications for the bid or request for proposal;  (B) Evaluation or consideration of the bid or request for proposal; or  (C) Decision to accept the bid or request for proposal; or    (2) If competitive bidding or a request for proposal was not required by law, the lease agreement, contract, or grant has received the prior approval of:  (A) The Joint Budget Committee during legislative sessions or the Legislative Council between legislative sessions; and  (B) The Governor.      (b) No constitutional officer may receive any subgrant, subcontract, or assignment of any lease with a state agency unless the constitutional officer:  (1) Is disclosed as a subgrantee or subcontractor in the competitive bid or request for proposal; or  (2) If competitive bidding or a request for proposal was not required by law, receives prior approval from:  (A) The Joint Budget Committee during legislative sessions or the Legislative Council between legislative sessions; and  (B) The Governor.      (c)  (1) Constitutional officers shall not enter into professional and consultant services contracts with state agencies subject to §§ 19-11-1001 — 19-11-1011.  (2) Any professional and consultant services contracts obtained by constitutional officers or their spouses with any state agency exempt from §§ 19-11-1001 — 19-11-1011 must receive prior review of the Joint Budget Committee during legislative sessions and the Legislative Council between legislative sessions.    (d) The restrictions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section also apply to spouses of constitutional officers and to any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or any other legal entity of which a constitutional officer or the constitutional officer's spouse has an ownership interest of at least ten percent (10%).  (e) If a constitutional officer, a constitutional officer's spouse, or an entity listed in subsection (d) of this section becomes the recipient of a grant, contract, or lease through competitive bidding or a request for proposal, the awarding state agency shall give written notice of the selection of the constitutional officer, constitutional officer's spouse, or entity to:  (1) The Joint Budget Committee during legislative sessions or the Legislative Council between legislative sessions; and  (2) The Governor.    (f) Grants, contracts, and leases entered into prior to the person's becoming a constitutional officer are not subject to the provisions of this section, but renewals and extensions of those grants, contracts, and leases are subject to the provisions of this section.
AR Code § 21-1-404 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 21 - Public Officers and Employees|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|Subchapter 4 - Constitutional Officers and Their Spouses|§ 21-1-404. Rules — Disclosure statement

 (a) The Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration is authorized to promulgate and implement any necessary rules or policies to ensure compliance with this subchapter subject to the prior review and approval of the Joint Budget Committee during legislative sessions and the Legislative Council between legislative sessions.  (b) All disclosure statements and other information required to be furnished by constitutional officers and their spouses shall be certified by the constitutional officer or spouse under penalty of perjury.
AR Code § 21-1-405 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 21 - Public Officers and Employees|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|Subchapter 4 - Constitutional Officers and Their Spouses|§ 21-1-405. Violations

 (a) Any knowing violation of this subchapter is a Class D felony.  (b) The violation of any rule or policy promulgated by the Department of Finance and Administration under this subchapter or the failure of a constitutional officer or spouse of a constitutional officer to disclose his or her interest in any contract, grant, or lease agreement or in any subcontract, subgrant, or assignment of lease as required by this subchapter or as required by any rule or policy of the department shall be grounds for voiding the contract, grant, lease agreement, subcontract, subgrant, or lease assignment, and the constitutional officer or spouse may be required to refund any moneys received thereunder.
AR Code § 21-1-406 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 21 - Public Officers and Employees|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|Subchapter 4 - Constitutional Officers and Their Spouses|§ 21-1-406. Venue for violation proceedings

 The venue for the judicial proceedings for violating § 21-1-405(a) shall be in the county of the defendant's domicile.
AR Code § 21-1-407 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 21 - Public Officers and Employees|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|Subchapter 4 - Constitutional Officers and Their Spouses|§ 21-1-407. Employment by state agency

 A person whose spouse is elected to a constitutional office may be employed by a state agency without the approval of the employment required by § 21-1-402(b) if the person's entry salary does not exceed the amount prescribed by Level 4 of Grade 13 of the state compensation plan found in § 21-5-209.
AR Code § 21-1-408 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 21 - Public Officers and Employees|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|Subchapter 4 - Constitutional Officers and Their Spouses|§ 21-1-408. Investigation of violations

 (a) The Arkansas Ethics Commission is authorized to investigate any complaints or allegations of violations of the provisions of this subchapter and to make findings thereon.  (b) In the investigation of such matters, the commission is specifically given all authority and powers as granted to it under the provisions of §§ 7-6-217 and 7-6-218.
AR Code § 21-1-501 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 21 - Public Officers and Employees|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|Subchapter 5 - Public Employees' Political Freedom Act of 1999|§ 21-1-501. Title

 This subchapter shall create the “Public Employees' Political Freedom Act of 1999”.
AR Code § 21-1-502 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 21 - Public Officers and Employees|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|Subchapter 5 - Public Employees' Political Freedom Act of 1999|§ 21-1-502. Definitions

 As used in this subchapter:   (1) “Elected public official” means the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer of State, Auditor of State, Attorney General, Commissioner of State Lands, a member of the Senate, and a member of the House of Representatives;  (2) “Public employee” means any person providing services for the State of Arkansas, a county, a municipal corporation, or any other political subdivision of this state for which compensation is paid; and  (3) “Public employer” means the State of Arkansas and each political subdivision of the State of Arkansas, as defined in § 21-5-603.
AR Code § 21-1-503 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 21 - Public Officers and Employees|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|Subchapter 5 - Public Employees' Political Freedom Act of 1999|§ 21-1-503. Employer not to penalize employee's political activity

 (a) A public employee shall not be prohibited from communicating with an elected public official concerning a matter related to the public employee's job, except for a matter exempted under § 25-19-105.  (b) A public employee shall not be prohibited from exercising a right or privilege under the Freedom of Information Act of 1967, § 25-19-101 et seq.  (c)  (1) It shall be unlawful for any public employer to discipline, to threaten to discipline, to reprimand either orally or in writing, to place any notation in a public employee's personnel file disciplining or reprimanding the public employee, or to otherwise discriminate against a public employee because the public employee exercised the right to communicate with an elected public official or exercised a right or privilege under the Freedom of Information Act of 1967, § 25-19-101 et seq., as granted under this subchapter.  (2) A public employer shall not be prohibited from disciplining a public employee who has intentionally made an untrue allegation to an elected public official concerning a matter related to the public employee's job.    (d) Any person willfully violating a provision of this subchapter shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
AR Code § 21-1-601 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 21 - Public Officers and Employees|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|Subchapter 6 - Arkansas Whistle-Blower Act|§ 21-1-601. Title

 This subchapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Arkansas Whistle-Blower Act”.
AR Code § 21-1-603 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 21 - Public Officers and Employees|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|Subchapter 6 - Arkansas Whistle-Blower Act|§ 21-1-603. Public employer conduct prohibited — Good faith communication

 (a)  (1) A public employer shall not take adverse action against a public employee because the public employee or a person authorized to act on behalf of the public employee communicates in good faith to an appropriate authority:  (A) The existence of waste of public funds, property, or manpower, including federal funds, property, or manpower administered or controlled by a public employer; or  (B) A violation or suspected violation of a law, rule, or regulation adopted under the law of this state or a political subdivision of the state.    (2) The communication shall be made at a time and in a manner which gives the public employer reasonable notice of need to correct the waste or violation.    (b)  (1) For purposes of subsection (a) of this section, a public employee communicates in good faith if there is a reasonable basis in fact for the communication of the existence of waste or of a violation.  (2) Good faith is lacking when the public employee does not have personal knowledge of a factual basis for the communication or when the public employee knew or reasonably should have known that the communication of the waste or of the violation was malicious, false, or frivolous.    (c) A public employer shall not take an adverse action against a public employee because the employee participates or gives information in an investigation, hearing, court proceeding, legislative or other inquiry, or in any form of administrative review.  (d) A public employer shall not take an adverse action against a public employee because an employee has objected to or refused to carry out a directive that the employee reasonably believes violates a law or a rule or regulation adopted under the authority of laws of the state or a political subdivision of the state.  (e) A public employer shall not take an adverse action against a public employee because of a report of a loss of public funds under § 25-1-124.
AR Code § 21-1-604 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 21 - Public Officers and Employees|Chapter 1 - General Provisions|Subchapter 6 - Arkansas Whistle-Blower Act|§ 21-1-604. Civil liability — Definition

 (a) A public employee who alleges a violation of this subchapter may bring a civil action for appropriate injunctive relief or actual damages, or both, within one hundred eighty (180) calendar days after the occurrence of the alleged violation of this subchapter.  (b) An action commenced under this section may be brought in the circuit court for the county where the alleged violation occurred, for the county where the complainant resides, or in the Pulaski County Circuit Court if the complaint is filed against an agency, department, or institution of state government.  (c) To prevail in an action brought under the authority of this section, the public employee shall establish, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the employee has suffered an adverse action because the employee or a person acting on his or her behalf engaged or intended to engage in an activity protected under this subchapter.  (d) As used in this section, “damages” means damages for a job-related injury or loss caused by each violation of this subchapter, including, but not limited to, fringe benefits, retirement service credit, compensation for lost wages, benefits, and any other remuneration, and reasonable court costs and attorney's fees.  (e)  (1) A public employer shall have an affirmative defense to a civil action brought by a public employee under this subchapter if the adverse action taken against a public employee was due to employee misconduct, poor job performance, or a reduction in workforce unrelated to a communication made pursuant to § 21-1-603.  (2) The public employer must prove the existence of the public employee's misconduct unrelated to the communication by a preponderance of the evidence.    (f)  (1) In the event the Office of Personnel Management implements an employee grievance mediation program, a public employee or public employer may voluntarily participate in mediation under the office's mediation program if either one wishes to resolve a dispute between them that involves an adverse action taken against the public employee.  (2) Voluntary mediation shall occur before a civil action in which the public employee and public employer are parties has been initiated in a court.  (3) The Secretary of the Department of Transformation and Shared Services shall adopt voluntary mediation application and request forms.