Ark. Code Ann. § 12-9-103 (2026)

1. The members of the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training shall consist of ten (10) members, to be appointed by the Governor with the advice and approval of the Senate.
2. 1. 1. Two (2) members of the commission shall be chiefs of police of municipalities in Arkansas, two (2) members of the commission shall be county sheriffs of counties in this state, one (1) member shall be an officer of the Division of Arkansas State Police, two (2) members shall be appointed to represent the public, one (1) member shall be an educator in the field of criminal justice, and one (1) member shall represent the Arkansas Municipal Police Association.
      2. Each congressional district of the state shall be represented on the commission, with the remaining members to be appointed from the state at large.
   2. 1. One (1) member shall not be actively engaged in or retired from law enforcement.
      2. The member under subdivision (b)(2)(A) of this section shall be:
         1. At least sixty (60) years of age and shall represent the elderly;
         2. Appointed from the state at large subject to confirmation by the Senate; and
         3. A full voting member.
3. Members shall be appointed for terms of seven (7) years or until their successors are appointed and qualified.
4. If a vacancy occurs on the commission due to death, resignation, or for other reason, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the Governor, in the same manner as provided for the initial appointment for the position, for the remainder of the unexpired portion of the term thereof.
5. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation but may receive expense reimbursement in accordance with § 25-16-901 et seq.
6. The commission shall meet at such times as may be provided by the rules of the commission, or upon call of the chair, or upon written request of any four (4) members.
7. 1. Upon recommendation of the commission, the Governor shall appoint the Director of the Division of Law Enforcement Standards and Training, who shall perform such duties as may be directed by the commission and who shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.
   2. The director shall report to the Secretary of the Department of Public Safety.

History. Acts 1981, No. 45, § 7; 1983, No. 131, §§ 1-3, 5; 1983, No. 135, §§ 1-3, 5; A.S.A. 1947, §§ 6-623 — 6-626, 42-701.1; Acts 1993, No. 109, § 1; 1997, No. 250, § 65; 2009, No. 205, § 1; 2011, No. 283, § 1; 2017, No. 250, § 2; 2017, No. 497, § 3; 2019, No. 910, §§ 5810, 5811.

Publisher's Notes. In addition to enacting the general and permanent provisions codified in this section, Acts 1981, No. 45, § 7, abolished the Executive Commission on Law Enforcement Standards, which was created by Acts 1975, No. 452, § 5, and transferred all its powers, functions, duties, personnel, and funds to the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training.

It further provided that the act should not be construed so as to reduce any right which an employee of the Executive Commission on Law Enforcement Standards would have under any civil service or merit system.

The terms of the members of the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Training and Standards, other than the representative of the elderly, are arranged so that one (1) term expires on January 14 of each year.

Amendments. The 2009 amendment substituted “ten (10)” for “nine (9)” in (a); in (b), inserted “one (1) member shall be an officer of the Department of Arkansas State Police” in (b)(1)(A), inserted “under subdivision (b)(2)(A) of this section” in (b)(2)(B); and made related and stylistic changes.

The 2011 amendment, in (b)(3), inserted “or his or her designee” and deleted “during his or her term of office as president of the association, and his or her successors shall likewise serve as full voting members of the commission” at the end; and deleted “Except for the president of the Arkansas Municipal Police Association” at the beginning of (c).

The 2017 amendment by No. 250 substituted “At least sixty (60)” for “Sixty (60)” in (b)(2)(B)(i).

The 2017 amendment by No. 497 inserted “members of the” in (a); in (b)(1)(A), inserted “and one (1) member shall represent the Arkansas Municipal Police Association”; substituted “At least sixty (60)” for “Sixty (60)” in (b)(2)(B)(i); and deleted (b)(3).

The 2019 amendment substituted “Division of Arkansas State Police” for “Department of Arkansas State Police” in (b)(1)(A); and redesignated (g) as (g)(1), substituted “Director of the Division of Law Enforcement Standards and Training” for “Director of Law Enforcement Standards and Training” in (g)(1), and added (g)(2).