Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 20 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE (§§ 20-2-101 — 20-86-113) › Subtitle 3 - MENTAL HEALTH (§§ 20-45-101 — 20-50-106) › Chapter 48 - TREATMENT OF THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED (§§ 20-48-101 — 20-48-1108) › Subchapter 4 - HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CENTERS GENERALLY (§§ 20-48-401 — 20-48-419) › Section 20-48-415 - Board of Developmental Disabilities Services - Powers and duties - Proceedings - Appointment of superintendents

(a)
The government and control of the human development centers shall be vested in the Board of Developmental Disabilities Services.
(b)
The board:
(1)
Shall have charge of the property of the state which may be used for the purposes of the centers;
(2)
Shall make and execute its bylaws;
(3)
Shall appoint and remove its officers, attendants, and employees and fix their compensation;
(4)
Shall exercise a strict supervision of the centers' expenditures; and
(5)
(A)
May acquire real and personal property by purchase, gift, or other transfer, and may own, sell, and transfer real and personal property and establish trusts.
(B)
(i)
Ownership of real and personal property under the control of the board shall be in the name of the State of Arkansas, or in the trust or trusts as the board may from time to time create.
(ii)
All property under the control of the board, whether owned by the State of Arkansas or in a trust established by the board, shall be held for the benefit of individuals with developmental disabilities.
(c)
(1)
The board shall appoint superintendents who shall not be one of its number. The superintendents shall be reputable, trained administrators of institutions engaged in the care, custody, treatment, and training of children and youth, with at least five (5) years' experience as the superintendent or administrative assistant of such an institution.
(2)
The board shall fix the superintendents' salaries and prescribe their duties.
(d)
(1)
The board shall annually elect from its membership a chair and vice chair, each of whom shall hold office until his or her successor is chosen.
(2)
The chair shall preside at meetings of the board, and in his or her absence the vice chair shall preside.
(3)
A superintendent shall serve as executive secretary to the board and shall maintain an official set of minutes of all votes and actions of the board. These minutes shall be signed by the superintendent as executive secretary and by the chair of the board.
(4)
The board is authorized to designate the superintendent, or some other competent employee or official of the center, to serve as disbursing officer of all funds of the center.
(e)
The board shall meet at least one (1) time each three (3) months and at such other times as the chair may deem advisable.
(f)
The superintendent of each center shall annually, or more often if required, present to the board for himself or herself and his or her staff a written report of the management of the center setting forth in detail all receipts and disbursements and general conditions of the affairs of the center.
(g)
The board shall report biennially to the Governor and General Assembly, accompanying its report with the annual report of the superintendent.
(h)
A majority vote of the entire membership of the board shall be necessary to take any board action.
(i)
The board may make such rules respecting the care, custody, training, and discipline of individuals admitted to the centers and the management thereof and of its affairs as it may deem for the best interest of the centers and the State of Arkansas.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 315,§ 2155, eff. 7/24/2019.
Amended by Act 2019, No. 389,§ 65, eff. 7/24/2019.
Acts 1955, No. 6, §§ 13, 14; A.S.A. 1947, §§ 59-1113, 59-1114; Acts 2005, No. 662, §§ 1, 2.