The Arkansas Fire and Police Pension Review Board (PRB) was established by Act 381 of 1983.  Its legal charge is to enforce Arkansas laws which govern funding of local fire and police pension funds, which were established by Act 491 of 1921 and Act 250 of 1937, respectively, and to enforce the legal level of benefit payments from each pension fund.  The law also charges the Board with approving decisions of staff, who certify to them action to be taken on benefit increase requests made by a local pension fund.

The Board has nine (9) voting members:  Employers have three (3) representatives; each employee group have two (2) representatives each (2 firefighters and 2 police officers); the public has one (1) representative; and the Director of Finance and Adminstration or his designee.  Board members are appointed by the Governor and hold terms which are set by law.  The Board must meet once a year, and may call other regular and special meetings at its discretion.  These meetings are open to the public.

The law designates the executive director and staff of the Arkansas Local Police and Fire Retirement System to serve as director and staff for the Pension Review Board.

The Board is authorized to make rules necessary to enforce the laws governing funding and benefit levels, and to withhold State Insurance Tax Turnback from a local pension fund when non-compliance with such laws is determined.