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(a) Any contest to the eligibility, qualifications, or election to serve as a member of the Senate
shall be in accordance with the rules and procedures for election contests as established by that
chamber under its governing rules.
(b)(1)(A) Any action to contest eligibility, qualification, or election to serve as a member of the
House of Representatives shall be initiated by filing a complaint with the Arkansas State
Claims Commission.
(B) This procedure shall apply to House of Representatives election contests pursuant to
Arkansas Constitution, Article 5, § 11, to contests of eligibility pursuant to Arkansas
Constitution, Article 5, § 9, and to actions for expulsion pursuant to Arkansas Constitution,
Article 5, § 12, except that a member of the House of Representatives shall be automatically
suspended from the legislative process if a representative under felony criminal indictment is
subsequently found guilty or pleads guilty.
(C)(i) If a representative under a felony criminal indictment in any federal or state court is
subsequently found guilty or pleads guilty to the charges, then the Speaker of the House of
Representatives shall immediately declare the representative suspended from the legislative
process, and notification shall be given to the convicted representative, all members of the
House of Representatives, the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, the Governor, the
Secretary of State, and the Auditor of State.
(ii)(a) However, if a representative who was found guilty appeals that conviction, then the
representative may petition the House Management Committee for a stay of the suspension
from the legislative process, and the House Management Committee may grant a stay upon the
filing of the petition and a notice of appeal to the relevant appellate court.
(b) The stay of the suspension shall continue until the appeal is complete or until the House
of Representatives takes final action on the conviction.
(D) A representative suspended from the legislative process shall not participate in interim
committee meetings nor in extraordinary or regular sessions of the General Assembly and shall
not accept per diem and mileage but shall be eligible to retain the title of office and salary as
a member of the General Assembly and is authorized to assist constituents and utilize
legislative staff until a final action is taken by the House of Representatives.
(2) For House of Representatives election contests, the complaint shall be filed within fifteen
(15) days after the election returns are certified by the county board of election commissioners. A
responsive pleading shall be filed by the House of Representatives contestee within fifteen (15)
days after receipt of the complaint unless an earlier or later date is set by the commission for good
cause shown. Upon receipt of the complaint, the commission shall establish a schedule for
discovery and hearing, which schedule shall allow the commission to take and review evidence
presented by the parties and submit a nonbinding recommendation to the House of Representatives no later than five (5) days before the date fixed for the assembling of the General
Assembly.
(3) For eligibility contests for the House of Representatives pursuant to Arkansas Constitution, Article 5, § 9, a complaint shall be filed at any time after the election of the individual to a
seat in the House of Representatives. For action for expulsion from the House of Representatives
pursuant to Arkansas Constitution, Article 5, § 12, the complaint shall be filed at any time
permitted by law. A responsive pleading shall be filed within twenty (20) days after receipt of the
complaint unless an earlier or later date is set by the commission for good cause shown. The
commission shall establish a schedule for discovery and hearing, which schedule shall allow the
commission to take and review evidence presented by the parties and submit a nonbinding
recommendation to the House of Representatives in a timely fashion.
(4) An additional copy of all complaints filed pursuant to this subsection shall be served on the
Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall
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ELECTION PROCEDURE GENERALLY
7-5-807
appoint one (1) member of the chamber from each political party to serve as ex officio, nonvoting
members of the commission for the consideration of all matters relating to the complaint.
(5) In those actions concerning a seat in the House of Representatives, the recommendation is
to be made to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Speaker of the House of
Representatives shall present the nonbinding recommendation to the members of the House of
Representatives, and the members shall take such actions as they deem appropriate.
(6) The commission is authorized to promulgate any rules necessary to carry out the provisions
set forth herein regarding contests for the seats in the House of Representatives.