Fallen Officers Honored at Capitol

General’s Office for citizens to report alleged elections violations. The Attorney General’s Office will report its submissions and findings to the Legislative Joint Performance Review Committee, which will have the authority to recommend that the State Board of Election Commissioners investigate and/or take remedial actions as needed. In cases of severe violations, the Board can decertify an election official or step in to conduct an election if the violations are widespread.

Act 980 — Rep. Nicole Clowney, Sen. Breanne Davis; It creates a definition of “secured voter” including certain victims of domestic violence who may register with the county clerk to have their address of record exempt from public information. The Secretary of State shall promulgate rules for the implementation of this process.

Act 1022 — Sen. Alan Clark, Rep. Spencer Hawks; This law requires the county board of election commissioners to prepare a report of both provisional and rejected ballots cast in the county for each election, broken down by early voting, election day voting, the number of provisional ballots rejected or included, and the reason for each rejected ballot. The report is to be submitted to the Secretary of State within 30 days after each election, and within 60 days the State Board of Election Commissioners shall compile the information and make the reports publicly available.

Opinions

does not signify it qualifies for sovereign immunity. This is because sovereign immunity only applies to state government and not local government. The AG cites Parish v. Pitts, 244 Ark. 1239, 1250-51, 429 S.W.2d 45 (1968).

AG OPINION NO. 2006-160

The AG was asked to answer whether the Faulkner County Public Facilities Board enjoys “sovereign immunity from law suits that cities of the second class and county governments have?” The AG responded by correcting “sovereign immunity” to statutory immunity as referred to in ACA 21-9-301, and by answering “yes” to the question. AG OPINION NO. 2003-266

The AG was asked to answer whether the Carroll and Madison Library System Administrative office enjoys tort immunity as the regional headquarters for six libraries. The AG explains it is his understanding this library system was created by an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between Carroll County and Madison County. If so, the AG believes the board and its officers and employees are likely entitled to immunity under ACA 21-9-301. However, the AG notes this is only for situations of tort liability and that in cases of federal law and federal causes of action it will be a different “qualified” immunity that will apply.

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Fallen officers honored during ceremony at state Capitol

As part of National Police Week, observed this year from May 9-15, the Arkansas Sheriffs Association Honor Guard (left) participated in a May 14 ceremony honoring fallen law enforcement officers at the state Capitol. The names of three officers whose watch ended in 2020 were added to the wall of the Arkansas Law Enforcement Memorial — Det. Kevin Dwaine Collins of the Pine Bluff Police Department, Officer Travis Cental Wallace of the Helena-West Helena Police Department, and Sgt. James Lawrence Dancy of the North Little Rock Police Department. In addition, the name of a “Hero from the Past” — Constable Ed Thomas Allen of Rogers, who was killed in 1924 — was added to the wall. Dignitaries such as Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and Department of Public Safety Director Jami Cook spoke about the importance of honoring our law enforcement officers and their families.