Arkansas Director of Labor
| Arkansas Director of Labor | |
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| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $162,885 |
| 2024 FY Budget: | $57,014,160 |
| 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 | |
| Daryl Bassett | |
| Other Arkansas Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Commissioner of Education • Agriculture Secretary • Insurance Commissioner • Commissioner of State Lands • Natural Resources Exec. Director • Labor Director • Public Service Commission | |
The Arkansas Director of Labor is a state executive position in the Arkansas state government. The director oversees the Arkansas Department of Labor & Licensing, which enforces the state's minimum wage, labor, and workplace safety regulations, and mediates labor disputes. The department also licenses the state's electricians, boiler operators, and private employment agencies, and provides a variety of training classes and free consultations on workplace safety issues.[1]
Current officeholder
The current officeholder is Daryl Bassett. He assumed the role on July 1, 2019.[2]
Authority
The office's authority is established by Arkansas statute.[3]
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."[3]
Additionally, the Arkansas Constitution requires all elected or appointed officeholders to be an elector. 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 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
|
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 state Senate. He serves at the pleasure of the governor.[3] 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 director of labor.
Vacancies
Vacancies are filled in the same manner as regular appointments; the governor chooses a replacement with the consent of the state 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.[4]
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 state Department of Labor & Licensing and is charged with enforcing the state's labor laws and regulations and making inspections, investigations and compiling statistical information to that end.[1]
The department's duties include:
[1]
- 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.
Divisions
As of January 8, 2021, divisions within the Department of Labor & Licensing included:[5]
- Administration
- Labor Standards
- Occupational Safety and Health
- Code Enforcement
State budget
- See also: Arkansas state budget and finances
The budget for the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing in Fiscal Year 2024 was $57,014,160.[6]
Compensation
As the director is not a part of the state's executive department, the officeholder's salary is determined by the state's Office of Personnel and Management (OPM). The OPM has classified the director under class code "U022U" for the purposes of determining compensation.
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $162,885, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2021
In 2021, the director received a salary of $158,140, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2020
In 2020, the director received a salary of $155,040 according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2019
In 2019, the director received a salary of $134,068 according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2018
In 2018, the director received a salary of $130,138 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2017
In 2017, the director received a salary of $130,138 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2016
In 2016, the director received a salary of $130,138 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2015
In 2015, the director received a salary of $128,850 according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2014
In 2014, the director received a salary of $127,574 according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2013
In 2013, the director received a salary of $117,308 according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2010
In 2010, the director received a salary of $115,007 according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Arkansas Director of Labor has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Contact info
Mailing address:
900 West Capitol Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 682-4500
Fax: (501) 682-4535
See also
| Arkansas | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Arkansas Department of Labor, "Records and Databases," accessed January 8, 2021
- ↑ Arkansas Department of Labor & Licensing, "Secretary Daryl E. Bassett," accessed January 8, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Arkansas Code, "Title 11, Chapter 2, Section 107," accessed January 8, 2021
- ↑ Arkansas Code, "Title 11, Chapter 2, Section 107," accessed January 8, 2021
- ↑ Arkansas Department of Labor & Licensing, "Divisions," accessed January 8, 2021
- ↑ Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, "Funded Budget - Fiscal Year 2024," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed November 14, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2013, Table 4.11," accessed February 2, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2010, Table 4.11," accessed May 20, 2011
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