§ 6-60-103 - Arkansas Safe Campus Task Force.
6-60-103. Arkansas Safe Campus Task Force.
(a) There is hereby created a task force to be known as the "Arkansas Safe Campus Task Force".
(b) The task force shall consist of eight (8) members including:
(1) The Director of the Department of Higher Education or his or her designee;
(2) The Director of the Department of Arkansas State Police or his or her designee;
(3) The Director of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management or his or her designee;
(4) One (1) member appointed by the Governor who is trained in treating persons affected mentally and emotionally by acts of violence;
(5) Two (2) members appointed by the Presidents Council who are university presidents or chancellors or their designees; and
(6) Two (2) members appointed by the Presidents Council who are two-year college presidents or their designees.
(c) If a vacancy occurs for any reason, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
(d) The Director of the Department of Higher Education shall organize the first meeting of the task force and serve as chair at the first meeting.
(e) (1) By September 1, 2009, the task force shall conduct its first meeting and elect a chair from among its membership.
(2) After its first meeting, the task force shall meet upon the call of the chair but shall meet no less than quarterly.
(3) The task force shall cease to exist after making its report under subsection (h) of this section but not later than December 31, 2010.
(f) (1) A quorum is required for any action by the task force.
(2) Five (5) members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting the business of the task force.
(g) The task force shall:
(1) Review the current campus safety and security practices of state-supported two-year and four-year institutions of higher education in this state and of private institutions of higher education that elect to participate in a review; and
(2) Develop guidelines and recommendations for best practices for developing an interdisciplinary and multijurisdictional campus violence prevention, response, and recovery plan that include:
(A) Effective methods of coordinating communications among and with:
(i) Institutions of higher education and their administrators, faculty, staff, students, and parents;
(ii) State and local officials;
(iii) Mental health providers; and
(iv) First responders;
(B) A campus violence prevention committee;
(C) A campus threat assessment team;
(D) A mental health response and recovery plan; and
(E) An analysis of the types of available training resources related to campus security issues from which personnel at institutions of higher education may benefit.
(h) By September 1, 2010, the task force shall provide a report to the Governor, the House Committee on Education, and the Senate Committee on Education on its review under subsection (g)(1) of this section and its recommendations under subdivision (g)(2) of this section.
(i) (1) The Department of Higher Education shall provide staff support and assistance to the task force.
(2) As funds are appropriated and available, the Department of Higher Education may reimburse a member of the task force for mileage for attending meetings of the task force at the rate established by the Department of Finance and Administration.