§ 20-47-109 — Abuse of patients prohibited

(a) In addition to the protections provided to patients under the Adult and Long-Term Care Facility Resident Maltreatment Act, § 12-12-1701 et seq., employees, agents, servants, or officers of the Arkansas State Hospital are prohibited from striking, beating, abusing, intimidating, assaulting, or in any manner physically chastising any patient in the Arkansas State Hospital. (b) (1) It is the duty of all employees, agents, servants, or officers of the Arkansas State Hospital, upon learning of a violation of subsection (a) of this section, to immediately notify in writing the Director of the Arkansas State Hospital. (2) Upon receiving a written report of a violation of this section, the director shall immediately investigate the incident and submit a report of the result of his or her findings to the Department of Human Services State Institutional System Board at its next regular meeting. (3) If the board finds the report to be true and finds that a violation of this section has occurred, the person who violated this section shall be immediately dismissed from employment at the Arkansas State Hospital and is no longer eligible for further employment with the Arkansas State Hospital. (4) If the board, after reading the report, determines that a violation of the state's criminal laws has occurred, the board shall immediately submit the report to the prosecuting attorney.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2017, No. 423,§ 35, eff. 8/1/2017. Acts 1971, No. 433, ch. 7, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, § 59-601.