§ 12-12-1513 — Status as a registered sex offender

(a) The General Assembly finds that: (1) The fact that a person is a registered sex offender or is required to register as a sex offender is releasable to employers and licensing boards; (2) Certain agencies are mandated to perform background checks on persons who work with children, elderly persons, and individuals with intellectual or other developmental disabilities; (3) The offenses for which an agency may exclude a person from employment are outlined in Arkansas law, but being a registered sex offender or being required to register as a sex offender is not listed as a disqualification; (4) It is a primary government interest to protect the public against sex offenders. A registered sex offender poses a higher risk of reoffending; therefore, release of certain information will assist in protecting the safety of the public; (5) Protection of the safety of the public will be increased by allowing agencies to immediately take the actions or precautions they deem necessary before employing or licensing the registrant or after employment or licensing of the registrant including, but not limited to, termination of employment or revocation of license; (6) The provisions of this section are civil in nature and for the protection of the public; and (7) It is the intent of this section that being a registered sex offender as a result of a court order or that being required to register as a sex offender as a result of a court order may exclude a person from employment or licensure with agencies and boards that are mandated by Arkansas law to perform criminal history background checks. (b) Whenever a noncriminal justice criminal history background check is performed on a person under the provisions of any criminal background check requirement contained in the Arkansas Code for employment, licensure, or any other purpose, the person may be disqualified for employment, licensure, or any other purpose for which the background check was conducted if it is determined that a court has entered an order requiring the person to register as a sex offender.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2019, No. 1035,§ 8, eff. 7/24/2019. Acts 2005, No. 1941, § 1.