§ 24-7-302. Term of office and vacancies

(a)

1. (1) The term of office of each member-elected trustee shall be six (6) years.

2. (2)

   1. (A)

      1. (i) An active member trustee shall be ineligible to serve after becoming inactive, retiring, or ceasing to be employed by an Arkansas Teacher Retirement System employer.

      2. (ii) A member trustee who participates in the Teacher Deferred Retirement Option Plan is considered active for purposes of this subsection.

   2. (B) A retirant trustee is ineligible to serve after becoming active.

(b)

1. (1)

   1. (A) If any member trustee fails to attend three (3) consecutive regular meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System, unless in each case excused for cause by the remaining trustees attending the meetings, the member trustee shall be considered to have resigned from the board, and the board shall by resolution declare his or her office of trustee vacated.

   2. (B) A regular meeting of the board shall include one (1) or more days of official business to be considered by the board.

2. (2) If a vacancy occurs in the office of an elected trustee, the board by majority vote may fill the vacancy by:

   1. (A) A special election; or

   2. (B) Appointment of a trustee until the next system election.

(c) The board shall adopt its own rules pertaining to attendance and vacancies as provided in subsection (b) of this section.