Little Rock, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Feb. 5, 2025 – Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Jonesboro) filed a bill Monday that would eliminate boards overseeing public broadcasting services and libraries.
Senate Bill 184 would abolish the Arkansas Educational Television (AETN) Commission and the State Library Board, transferring their authority, personnel, property, unspent funds and more to the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE). According to the bill’s language, this would not happen before SB184 becomes effective and the current rules governing the agencies would remain in place until ADE updates them.
Additionally, the AETN Commission would be renamed “Arkansas Educational Television.” Sullivan’s wife, Maria Sullivan, was appointed to the AETN Commission in May 2024.
Both agencies are under ADE’s umbrella but act independently of it.
Rep. Wayne Long (R-Bradford) represents the bill in the state House of Representatives, with Rep. Stephen Meeks (R-Greenbrier) co-sponsoring.
Sullivan has been a longtime critic of AETN. During the last week of the 2024 Arkansas Fiscal Legislative Session, he proposed reducing AETN’s appropriation. It failed to pass the Joint Budget Committee. Sullivan previously attempted to reduce the budget during the 2022 Arkansas Fiscal Legislative Session.
His proposal would have reduced the AETN’s spending authority for private funds by 20%, from $8.96 million to $7.17 million.
The AETN Commission was established in 1961. It oversees the Arkansas Public Broadcasting Service (AR PBS), which airs governmental board proceedings, educational children’s programming, sports events sanctioned by the Arkansas Activities Association and cultural programming. It also oversees AR PBS’ finances.
The board consists of eight members from Arkansas, with at least one member appointed from each of the state’s congressional districts. At least one member is to be a person who is “actively engaged in the field of education in the public school system from this state,” and at least one member is to be “actively engaged” in education at an institution of higher learning.
Members are also not to have any financial interest in facilities the commission would regularly work with, such as radio or TV stations. Members are appointed by the governor, approved by the Senate and serve eight-year terms. They can be reappointed.
The State Library Board was established in 1979 and creates agency policies to oversee the Arkansas State Library. This includes acquiring and books and other materials for research and reference, directing the development of public library systems, assisting communities with library services and more. It also disperses funds to public libraries quarterly.
The board has seven members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. Four members represent each of Arkansas’s four congressional districts and three are selected from the state at large. Members can serve up to two consecutive seven-year terms.
Read the full bill here.