Bill Name: AN ACT CONCERNING THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE DRUG COURT ADVISORY COMMITTEE; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
Sponsor: Andrea Lea (R-68), 479-967-4922, andrea.lea@arkansashouse.org.
Purpose: To amend Arkansas Code Annotated § 16-98-307(b), which lists the members of the Drug Court Advisory Committee, by adding “The Chair of the Parole Board or the chair’s designee.”
Pros for Average Arkansans: The only pro (if you can call it that) is that the addition seems logical given the people who are already named to the board: the Chief Justice of the AR Supreme Court, the Director of the AOC (or his designee), a judge appointed by the AR Judicial Council, the Director of the Department of Community Correction (or his designee), the Director of DHS (or his designee), a prosecutor appointed by the Prosecutor Coordinator, a public defender appointed by the Public Defender Commission, a member of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore, a member of the House appointed by the Speaker, the Arkansas Drug Director (or his designee), and the Chair of the Board of Corrections (or his designee). Adding the Chair of the Parole Board appears to be in keeping with the desired make-up of the committee.
Cons for Average Arkansans: None.
Official BHR Position: Strongly support