(a) The School Worker Defense Program Advisory Board is created. The board shall be composed of seven (7) members as follows:
(1) The Executive Director of the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators or his or her designee;
(2) The President of the Arkansas Rural Ed Association or his or her designee;
(3) The Executive Director of the Arkansas School Boards Association or his or her designee;
(4) The Executive Director of the Arkansas Education Association or his or her designee;
(5) The designee of the Attorney General;
(6) The Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration or his or her designee; and
(7)
(A) The Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education or his or her designee.
(B) Provided, however, no employee of the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education who is charged with administering the defense fund and protection program shall be eligible to serve as the designee of the commissioner.
(b) Members of the board shall biannually elect a chair, a vice chair, and a secretary from the membership of the board, whose duties shall be those customarily exercised by those officers or specifically designated by the board.
(c)
(1) The board shall meet within the State of Arkansas and may meet as often as it deems necessary for the purpose of carrying out its duties under the provisions of this section.
(2) A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of a meeting.
(d)
(1) The board shall have final authority to hear and adjudicate any appeal filed by a school worker for protection against liability pursuant to § 6-17-1113.
(2) In an emergency situation, the chair of the board may approve payment of a claim without a meeting of the board.
(e)
(1) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education may promulgate rules as necessary for the proper administration of this section to establish the board.
(2) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall provide support staff for the board.