Act 529 of l983 Fire Training Academy. Can the Arkansas Fire Training Academy Board actually hire or fire the Director or any employee of the academy pursuant to Act 529 of 1983, or any other law? 12-13-202 12-13-203 No. Its role is merely advisory.

STATE OF ARKANSAS OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL JUSTICE BUILDING, LITTLE ROCK 72201 STEVE CLARK (501) 371-2007 ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION NO. 85-149 June 21, 1985 The Honorable Mike Beebe State Senator 21l Arch Street Searcy, Arkansas 72143 Dear Senator Beebe: This Office acknowledges receipt of your request for an official opinion. You ask: ... Can the Arkansas Fire Training Academy Board actually hire and/or fire the Director or any employee [of the Arkansas Fire Training Academy], pursuant to Act 529 of 1983, or any other law currently in existence? In answering your question it is helpful to review the history of the Arkansas Fire Training Academy. The State Pire College was created in the 1940's as a training program of the Depart-— ment for Vocational, Technical, and Adult Education. In 1967 the administration and operation of the State Fire Coliege was transferred to Southwest Technical Institute at Camden. The operation of the Southwest Technical Institute and of the State Fire College was transferred from the State Board for Vocational Education to the Board of Trustees of Southern State College by Act 171 of 1975. In 1976 the school's name was changed to Southern Arkansas University. The Arkansas Fire Training Academy is currently a division of Southern Arkansas University Tech and is administered by the Board of Trustees and the Chancellor. The Arkansas Fire Training Academy Board was created by Act 529 of 1983, which is compiled at Ark. Stat. Ann. §§ 82-851 through 85-854. The powers of the Board are delineated in paragraph 4 of Act 529 of 1983 (Ark. Stat. Ann. §82-854) which provides: The Arkansas Fire Training Academy Board shall have the authority and responsibility to advise the Chancellor The. Honorable Mike Beebe June 21, 1985 Page 2 at Southern Arkansas University, Tech Branch on service needs, curriculum, instructional content and problems -at the Fire Training Academy, and the appointment and retention of the Director of the Arkansas Fire Training Academy. [Acts 1983, No. 529, 6 4, p._; 1983, No. 530, § 4, p-_.-] Under the clear language of this act the role of the Fire Training Academy Board is advisory in nature. This act did not transfer control of the administration of the Fire Training Academy from the Board of Trustees of Southern Arkansas University and its Chancellor to the Fire Training Academy Board. Thus, this Act does not empower the Fire Training Academy Board to hire or fire the Director or other employees of the Fire Training Academy. The foregoing opinion which I hereby approve was prepared by Assistant Attorney General Arnold M. Jochums. Sincerely, ( JG Attorhey General JSC:AMT: jk