Arkansas Director of Labor
| Arkansas Director of Labor | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Non-partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves at the pleasure of the governor |
| Authority: | Arkansas Code, Title 11, Chapter 2, Section 107 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by governor |
| Current Officeholder | |
| Name: | Ricky Belk |
| Assumed office: | January 24, 2013 |
| Compensation: | $117,308 |
| Other Arkansas Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Commissioner of Education • Agriculture Secretary • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Exec. Director • Labor Director • Public Service Commission | |
Contents |
Current officeholder
The current director is Ricky Belk. Belk was appointed by Gov. Mike Beebe in January 2013. Belk replaced James Salkeld, who served from 1991-2013.
Authority
The office of Director of Labor is established by Arkansas statute.[1]
Arkansas Code, Title 11, Chapter 2, Section 107
| (a) A Department of Labor is created and established under the supervision and direction of a director to be known as the Director of the Department of Labor. |
Qualifications
The director of labor is required to be "a person who, on account of his or her previous vocation, employment, or affiliation can be classed as a representative of employees."[1]
Additionally, the Arkansas Constitution requires all elected or appointed officeholders to be an elector. That is, they must fulfill the state's voter registration requirements -- being a U.S. citizen, a resident of Arkansas, at least 18 years old. Felons and citizens judged to be mentally incompetent by a court are also ineligible to vote and, by extension, to hold office.
Other requirements to complete a voter registration form -- essentially, qualifications to be an elector -- are given by Amendment 59, Section 6 of the constitution.
Incumbents may not hold any other state, federal, or civil office, and may not have ever been convicted of "embezzlement of public money, bribery, forgery, or other infamous crime."
Constitution of Arkansas, Article 5, Section 9
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No person hereafter convicted of embezzlement of public money, bribery, forgery or other infamous crime, shall be eligible to the General Assembly or capable of holding any office of trust or profit in this State. |
Constitution of Arkansas, Article 19, Section 3
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No persons shall be elected to, or appointed to fill a vacancy in, any office who does not possess the qualifications of an elector. |
Constitution of Arkansas, Amendment 51, Section 6
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(6) The mail voter registration application form shall include the following questions along with
boxes for the applicant to check "yes" or "no" in response: |
Appointments
The governor appoints the director with the approval of the Senate. He serves at the pleasure of the governor.[1] The director generally serves during the term of the governor that appointed him and may be reappointed by subsequent governors.
Term limits
There is no specific term limit associated with the office of director.
Vacancies
Vacancies are filled in the same manner as regular appointments; the governor chooses a replacement with the consent of the Senate. However, vacancy appointments only last for the unexpired portion of the previous director's term. Since directors of labor serve at the pleasure of the governor that appointed them, their de facto "term" in office lasts as long as that governor remains in power.[2]
Arkansas Code, Title 11, Chapter 2, Section 107
| (3) Any individual chosen to fill a vacancy shall be appointed only for the unexpired portion of the term of the director whom he or she shall succeed, and shall have the same qualifications as the director. |
Duties
The director of labor is the administrative head of the Department of Labor and is charged with enforcing Arkansas' labor laws and regulations and making inspections, investigations and compiling statistical information to that end.
The Department's duties include:
- conducting complaint, accident and fatality investigations in the public sector
- conducting routine inspections
- inspecting amusement rides (see AOSH)
- providing free safety consultation services
- providing training classes on safety and health issues, and most are free of charge
- providing elevator safety inspection
- presenting safety awards
- administering and enforcing the Arkansas laws relating to minimum wage, overtime, student learners, child labor, disabled workers and equal pay
- collecting unpaid wages for employees, and
- licensing and regulating all private employment agencies
- administering Arkansas' prevailing wage law.
- inspection and certification of boilers and pressure vessels; and licensing of boiler operators, installers, and repair firms
- licensing electricians
- conducting annual surveys of the state's workplace fatalities, illnesses and injuries
- offering mediation and conciliation services in labor disputes.[3]
Divisions
- Administration
- AOSH
- Boiler Inspection
- Electrical
- Elevator Safety
- Labor Standards
- Legal
- Mediation and Conciliation
- Occupational Safety and Health
- Prevailing Wage[3]
Compensation
In 2010, the director received compensation in the amount of $115,007.[4] As the director is not a part of the state's executive department, his or her salary is determined by the state's Office of Personnel and Management. The OPM has classified the director under class code "U022U" for the purposes of determining compensation.
Contact info
Mailing address:
10421 West Markham
Little Rock, AR 72205
Phone: (501) 682-4500
Fax: (501) 682-4535
See also
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Arkansas Code, "Title 11, Chapter 2, Section 107," accessed June 22, 2011.
- ↑ Arkansas Code, "Title 11, Chapter 2, Section 107," accessed July 6, 2011.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Arkansas Department of Labor, "About Us," accessed July 7, 2011.
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2010, Table 4.11," accessed May 20, 2011.
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