An act TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE COMPENSATION 10 OF A RETIRED JUDGE APPOINTED AS A SPECIAL JUDGE, the official text

Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.

1 State of Arkansas                A Bill
2 95th General Assembly

3 Regular Session, 2025                                            HOUSE BILL 1644

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5 By: Representative Dalby

6 By: Senator A. Clark

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8                           For An Act To Be Entitled

9   AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE COMPENSATION

10  OF A RETIRED JUDGE APPOINTED AS A SPECIAL JUDGE; TO

11  CLARIFY THAT A RETIRED JUDGE MAY SERVE AS A SPECIAL

12  JUDGE IMMEDIATELY UPON RETIREMENT; TO DECLARE AN

13  EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

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16                                 Subtitle

17                       CONCERNING THE COMPENSATION OF A RETIRED

18                       JUDGE APPOINTED AS A SPECIAL JUDGE; TO

19                       CLARIFY THAT A RETIRED JUDGE MAY SERVE

20                       AS A SPECIAL JUDGE IMMEDIATELY UPON

21                       RETIREMENT; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

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23 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:

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25  SECTION 1. DO NOT CODIFY. Legislative intent.

26  The General Assembly intends:

27  (1) To clarify the ability of a retired judge to serve as a

28 special judge immediately upon retirement, as provided by Arkansas

29 Constitution, Amendment 80, � 13, and other law; and

30  (2) For this act to apply retroactively to January 1, 2025.

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32  SECTION 2. Arkansas Code � 16-10-902, concerning the compensation of a

33 retired judge appointed as a special judge, is amended to add an additional

34 subsection to read as follows:

35  (c) A retired judge may serve as a special judge immediately upon

36 leaving office.

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                                                                           HB1644

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2   SECTION 3. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. It is found and determined by the

3 General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the number of requests for

4 special judges is currently higher than the number of retired judges

5 available to be appointed; that there is a need to clarify that a retired

6 judge may be appointed as a special judge immediately upon leaving office;

7 and that this act is immediately necessary to ensure the timely

8 administration of justice. Therefore, an emergency is declared to exist, and

9 this act being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public

10 peace, health, and safety shall become effective on:

11           (1) The date of its approval by the Governor;

12           (2) If the bill is neither approved nor vetoed by the Governor,

13 the expiration of the period of time during which the Governor may veto the

14 bill; or

15           (3) If the bill is vetoed by the Governor and the veto is

16 overridden, the date the last house overrides the veto.

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