§ 21-13-105. Development of programs — Use of volunteers
(a) Every department, through its executive head, may develop volunteer programs and accept the services of volunteers, including regular-service volunteers, occasional-service volunteers, or material donors to assist in programs carried out or administered by that department. (b) Each department that utilizes the services of volunteers may: (1) Enlist the services of the Department of Human […]
§ 21-13-106. Exemption from employment laws
(a) Volunteers recruited, trained, or accepted by any department shall, to the extent of their volunteer service, be exempted from all provisions of law relative to state employment, hours of work, return or compensation, leave time, and employee benefits. (b) Volunteers shall, however, at all times comply with applicable work rules.
§ 21-13-107. Meals, lodging, and transportation
(a) (1) Every department that utilizes the services of volunteers is authorized to provide volunteers with incidental reimbursements as are consistent with allowances authorized by law for reimbursement for state or local employees. (2) Such reimbursements include transportation costs, lodging, and subsistence, as the department deems appropriate, to assist volunteers in performing their duties, provided […]
§ 21-13-108. Liability insurance — Sovereign immunity
(a) Liability insurance may be provided by the department utilizing volunteer services, both to regular-service and occasional-service volunteers, to the same extent as may be provided by the department to its paid staff. (b) Volunteers in state service shall enjoy the protection of the state’s sovereign immunity to the same extent as paid staff.
§ 21-13-109. Employment experience
(a) Each department that utilizes the services of volunteers may recognize prior volunteer service as partial fulfillment of state employment requirements for training and experience established under applicable personnel rules. (b) The Department of Finance and Administration and the personnel administrators of the respective departments shall make provision for the listing of volunteer service and […]
§ 21-13-110. Department reports or records
Each department shall include in its annual report, or shall maintain in its files, information which may be developed and maintained by volunteers relating to: (1) The total number, location, and duties of all volunteers, including regular-service volunteers, occasional-service volunteers, and material donors; (2) The total number of annual hours of service provided to the […]
§ 21-13-111. State income tax deductions — Definition
(a) In computing net income for the purpose of the Arkansas income tax levied by § 26-51-201, there shall be allowed as deductions, in addition to all other deductions allowed by law: (1) (A) A deduction for mileage for necessary travel in connection with voluntary service to a department, at the rate provided by law […]
§ 21-13-104. No legal claim created — Exceptions
Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to provide a lawful claim or right of volunteers for meals, lodging, transportation, or liability insurance coverage, unless each of the respective departments has: (1) Made provision for such benefits; (2) Established appropriate safeguards for eligibility for the benefits; and (3) Determined that sufficient funds are available to […]
§ 21-13-101. Title
This chapter may be cited as the “State and Local Government Volunteers Act”.
§ 21-13-102. Legislative intent
(a) Since the spirit of volunteerism has long animated generations of citizens of this state and throughout the nation to give of their time and abilities to help others, the State of Arkansas would be wise to make use of volunteers in state and local agencies whenever possible. (b) Effective use of volunteers in state […]