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(a)
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(1) Whenever any information or indictment shall be filed in any circuit court of this state against any county or township officer on any charge involving a shortage of funds in his or her office when the shortage has been reported by Arkansas Legislative Audit, the circuit court shall immediately order that the officer be suspended from his or her office until the information or indictment is tried.
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(2) The suspension shall not extend beyond the next term after the information or indictment is filed in the circuit court, unless the cause is continued on the application of the defendant.
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(b)
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(1) Whenever any such officer is confined in a jail on a charge involving a shortage of funds in his or her office when the shortage has been reported by Arkansas Legislative Audit, he or she shall be suspended from office by the circuit court upon the filing of information of the imprisonment.
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(2) The suspension shall last until the officer is discharged from prison by due process of law, on bail, or otherwise.
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