AAC
his findings to the Judges’ Association on multiple occasions, helped compile the 2016 Arkansas County Compliance Guide, contributed in drafting the Index of County Government Acts, and drafted the 2016 Ambulance Services Guidebook and the 2016 Annexation Guidebook.
Liang said he is thankful for the stellar clerkship program at
the AAC, and he believes the skills and experiences obtained through the program continue to help him in his current role as counsel at the Auditor of State’s office. I started with AAC as a law clerk in August 2017. My first
project has been to update legislation regarding the disposition of unclaimed bodies in Arkansas. Te number of unclaimed bodies has grown in recent years, creating issues for both county coroners and the Department of Human Services (DHS), as many of these situations involve people in Adult Protective Custody. My research has involved comparing disposition pro- cedures of other states to those of Arkansas, as well as meeting with coroners and DHS officials to determine the viability of solutions. One option we considered is to donate unclaimed bodies to a new Osteopathic medical school in Fayetteville. However, the law pertaining to the duties of parties when a body goes unclaimed is unclear. Terefore, my project has in- cluded drafting amending legislation to clarify the duties. I also have worked on enhancing training for coroners. Legis-
RESEARCH CORNER
lation for this issue is tricky because coroners are constitutional officers whose requirements cannot be changed without a con- stitutional amendment. Additional training will not only ensure coroners are current on techniques, but it also will help protect these public servants from potential lawsuits. It will protect the coroner system, as there is a national push toward more central- ized statewide medical examiner systems. Another ongoing project has been to add qualifications for the position of sheriff. Te only current requirement is a sheriff must be a qualified elector, and because this is a constitutional office, adding more qualifications will require a constitutional amendment. I started by comparing sheriffs’ qualifications in the other 49 states, and I drafted a resolution to amend the Arkansas Constitution to include these requirements, such as education and experience levels. Tese requirements will ensure all sheriffs are prepared for the job — and assure the public their sheriffs are ready to serve. Tis is an issue the sheriff’s will continue to explore and discuss. AAC is a tight-knit office that embodies the small-town spirit
of Arkansas. Te clerkship program has allowed me to explore my love for local government, and it has been a great supple- ment to my law school experience. I already have learned so much in the few months I have been here, and I am grateful that I get to stay a little longer.
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