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HB 2002

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104th Regular Session Introduced by Tony McCombie

HB 2002 aimed to enhance Arkansas education service cooperatives by removing boundaries, improving governance, and increasing accountability, but it died in committee.

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Bill Summary · HB 2002

Summary of House Bill 2002

Bill Number: HB 2002
Title: To Amend the Education Service Cooperative Act of 1985
Status: Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment
Introduced: April 09, 2025
Classification: Bill

Purpose and Intent

House Bill 2002 aimed to amend the Education Service Cooperative Act of 1985 to enhance the operational flexibility and effectiveness of education service cooperatives in Arkansas. The bill sought to remove existing boundaries for these cooperatives, establish new governance requirements, and improve accountability measures.

Key Provisions

The bill proposed several significant changes to the existing law:

  1. Removal of Boundaries:

    • The bill sought to eliminate the specific boundaries established for education service cooperatives, allowing for a more flexible structure.

  2. Governance Changes:

    • Required each education service cooperative to establish an Executive Subcommittee within its Board of Directors.
    • Mandated the development of a strategic plan for each cooperative.

  3. Repeal of Teacher Center Requirement:

    • Removed the obligation for each cooperative to establish a teacher center, potentially streamlining operations.

  4. Accountability Measures:

    • Authorized the State Board of Education to take action against a cooperative director under certain conditions.
    • Established a rating system for education service cooperatives, with specific actions to be taken against those receiving an "F" rating for multiple years.

  5. Funding Formula Development:

    • Required the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education to create a funding formula specifically for education service cooperatives.

  6. Dissolution Conditions:

    • Amended the conditions under which the State Board of Education could dissolve an education service cooperative.

Affected Parties

The proposed changes would primarily impact:

  • Education Service Cooperatives: These entities would gain more operational flexibility and face new accountability standards.
  • Public School Districts: Districts would have the opportunity to benefit from a more adaptable cooperative system and potentially improved services.
  • State Board of Education: The board would have enhanced authority to oversee and regulate cooperatives.

Procedural Aspects

  • Timeline:
    • The bill was filed on April 09, 2025, and was read for the first time the following day.
    • It was referred to the House Education Committee but ultimately died in committee on May 05, 2025, at Sine Die adjournment.

Conclusion

While HB 2002 aimed to modernize and improve the framework for education service cooperatives in Arkansas, it did not progress beyond the committee stage. The proposed amendments reflected a significant shift in governance and accountability, which could have led to enhanced educational services for public school districts across the state.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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