(a) This subchapter establishes the Council on Postsecondary Education and Career Readiness to facilitate the collaboration of kindergarten, elementary, secondary, and postsecondary educational institutions in Arkansas in developing college and career readiness standards that align school curriculum and graduation standards with postsecondary education requirements and business community expectations for employability.

(b) The council shall consist of eleven (11) members as follows:

(1) The Commissioner of Education or his or her designee;

(2) The Director of the Department of Higher Education or his or her designee;

(3) The Director of the Department of Career Education or his or her designee;

(4) The Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission or his or her designee;

(5) The Director of the Department of Workforce Services or his or her designee;

(6) A president or chancellor of an Arkansas four-year institution of higher education or his or her designee, appointed annually by the Director of the Department of Higher Education;

(7) The Executive Director of the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators or his or her designee;

(8) The Executive Director of Arkansas Community Colleges or his or her designee;

(9) The Executive Director of the Arkansas Education Association or his or her designee;

(10) The Executive Director of the Arkansas School Boards Association or his or her designee; and

(11) The President of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Industries of Arkansas or his or her designee.

(c)

(1) The Commissioner of Education or his or her designee shall call the first meeting of the council and serve as chair for the first meeting.

(2) The first meeting shall occur within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this subchapter.

(d) At the first meeting of the council and annually thereafter, the voting members of the council shall elect one (1) member to serve as chair for one (1) year.

(e)

(1) All members are voting members except the chair, who may vote only to break a tie vote.

(2) A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

(f) The council shall meet at least three (3) times in a calendar year.

(g) The Department of Education, Department of Higher Education, and Department of Career Education, alternating each year, shall provide meeting space and staff for the council.

(h) Council members shall serve without pay and shall not receive expense reimbursement except from the agency or institution employing the member.