(a) The members of the State Highway Commission and the Director of State Highways and Transportation, before entering upon the discharge of their duties, shall take oaths that they will faithfully and honestly execute the duties of their offices during their continuance therein.
(b) All employees of the commission shall take the following oath before assuming the duties of their employment:
(c) All suits involving the validity of subsection (b) of this section or any portion thereof shall be deemed matters of public interest and shall be advanced and disposed of at the earliest possible moment, and appeals in these suits must be taken and perfected within thirty (30) days from the date of the judgment or decree.
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that so long as I am an employee of the State Highway Commission of the State of Arkansas or of the Arkansas Department of Transportation, I will give my entire and undivided time to the work of the department, and that I will not accept other employment while in the employ of the department, nor will I be interested, either directly or indirectly, in any of the contracts, work, or other activity of the Arkansas Department of Transportation other than as employee of the department, nor in the purchase or sale of any material, machinery, or equipment bought for or sold by the department while an employee of the department; that I will not be interested otherwise than as an employee of the state in adding any road to the state highway system or in the improving of any road by the Arkansas Department of Transportation, nor in the appointment of any person to any position in connection therewith; and that I will diligently and impartially execute the duties of my employment, and I will never use any information or influence that I may have, by reason of my employment, to gain any pecuniary reward for myself, directly or indirectly, nor will I disclose information so that it may be used by others, so help me God.”