(a) By December 1 of each year immediately preceding a regular session of the General Assembly, the Director of State Highways and Transportation shall present to the State Highway Commission for its approval, by recorded vote, all draft legislation that will be presented for filing during the regular session by the Arkansas Department of Transportation.
(b) The meeting at which the draft legislation is presented by the director to the commission shall be an open public meeting, in accordance with the requirements of § 25-19-106 of the Freedom of Information Act of 1967.
(c) Following approval of the commission of the draft legislation of the department, the director, or his or her designee, shall report to the Legislative Council at its December meeting regarding the legislative package of the department.
(d)
(1) The department may introduce draft legislation not presented to the Legislative Council at its December meeting under subsection (c) of this section if the commission:
(A) Finds that imminent peril to the public health, safety, or welfare or compliance with a federal law or regulation requires introduction of additional legislation; and
(B) Discusses and votes on the need for the additional legislation in an open public meeting.
(2) The director shall report the outcome of the commission's determination regarding the need for additional legislation and provide copies of the draft legislation to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.