§ 20-77-1604 - Arkansas Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force -- Creation.
20-77-1604. Arkansas Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force -- Creation.
(a) There is established the Arkansas Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force.
(b) The task force shall consist of seventeen (17) members as follows:
(1) (A) The Governor shall appoint eight (8) members:
(i) Two (2) students who are in grades seven (7) or eight (8) at the time of appointment;
(ii) Two (2) students who are in grades nine through twelve (9-12) at the time of appointment; and
(iii) Four (4) students who attend an institution of higher education in the state.
(B) Each student appointed under subdivision (b)(1)(A) of this section shall reside in and represent a different University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences health education center region;
(2) The Governor shall appoint two (2) members who are classroom teachers;
(3) The Governor shall appoint two (2) members who are school counselors;
(4) The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint two (2) members who represent the state at large:
(A) One (1) student who is in grades nine through twelve (9-12) at the time of appointment; and
(B) One (1) student who attends an institution of higher education in the state; and
(5) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint two (2) members who represent the state at large:
(A) One (1) student who is in grades nine through twelve (9-12) at the time of appointment;
(B) One (1) student who attends an institution of higher education in the state; and
(6) The Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee.
(c) (1) (A) The Governor shall select student members from a list of interested students submitted to the Department of Education. Each student on the list shall have been recommended by the superintendent of the school district in which the student attends school, by the governing body of the charter school or private school at which the student attends school, or by the president of the institution of higher education at which the student is enrolled.
(B) The Governor shall select student members to represent each of the following health education center regions:
(i) Central;
(ii) South central;
(iii) North central;
(iv) Northeast;
(v) Northwest;
(vi) Southwest;
(vii) South; and
(viii) Delta.
(C) Student members shall be at least thirteen (13) years of age but less than twenty-two (22) years of age when appointed.
(2) The Governor shall select the classroom teacher members from a list of interested teachers who are recommended by the Arkansas Education Association.
(3) The Governor shall select the school counselor members from a list of interested school counselors who are recommended by the Arkansas Counseling Association.
(4) All members shall be residents of the State of Arkansas at the time of appointment and throughout their terms.
(d) (1) In 2005, eight (8) members shall be appointed by the Governor to serve as follows:
(A) Two (2) for terms to expire June 30, 2006;
(B) Two (2) for terms to expire June 30, 2007;
(C) Two (2) for terms to expire June 30, 2008; and
(D) Two (2) for terms to expire June 30, 2009.
(2) In 2005, two (2) members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives to serve as follows:
(A) One (1) for a term to expire June 30, 2006; and
(B) One (1) for a term to expire June 30, 2007.
(3) In 2005, two (2) members shall be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate to serve as follows:
(A) One (1) for a term to expire June 30, 2008; and
(B) One (1) for a term to expire June 30, 2009.
(4) Subsequent appointments are for terms of two (2) years.
(e) (1) If a vacancy occurs in an appointed position for any reason, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the official who made the appointment.
(2) The new appointee shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.