§ 12-75-126 — Public safety officers

(a) No person shall be employed or associated in any capacity in any emergency management organization established under this chapter who: (1) Advocates or has advocated a change by force or violence in the constitutional form of the United States Government or of this state or the overthrow of any government in the United States by force or violence; or (2) Has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to or been found guilty of any subversive act against the United States or is under indictment or information charging any subversive act against the United States. (b) The Director of the Division of Emergency Management and persons he or she may designate from the state and local offices of emergency management staffing patterns shall be sworn public safety officers as defined and limited by this chapter. (c) (1) Before entering upon his or her duties, each person who is selected to serve as a public safety officer in an organization of emergency management shall take an oath in writing before a person authorized to administer oaths in this state. (2) The oath required in subdivision (c)(1) of this section shall be substantially as follows: "I, ________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Arkansas, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of Public Safety Officer, upon which I am now about to enter." (d) (1) (A) The director may determine what constitutes the Division of Emergency Management uniform for division personnel. (B) The chief executive of a local office of emergency management may determine what constitutes a uniform for his or her jurisdiction. (2) The uniform may include a badge or identification card, or both, of appropriate design and dimensions to identify local office of emergency management personnel as bona fide emergency management workers within their jurisdiction and division personnel as bona fide emergency workers for the state. (e) Any person issued or provided a badge, identification, or uniform described in subsection (d) of this section shall wear, carry, or display it at such times and places as shall be designated or required by the chief executive of the local jurisdiction for local office of emergency management personnel and by the director for division personnel.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 5902, eff. 7/1/2019. Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 5901, eff. 7/1/2019. Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 5900, eff. 7/1/2019. Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 5899, eff. 7/1/2019. Acts 1973, No. 511, § 21; 1985, No. 687, § 9; 1985, No. 978, § 9; A.S.A. 1947, § 11-1954; Acts 1999, No. 646, § 33; 2007, No. 197, § 17.