TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING OCCUPATIONAL AND CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS; AND TO PROHIBIT THE DISQUALIFICATION OF AN OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE BASED ON A PRIOR CONVICTION OF AN OFFENSE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES

SB 646 sought to amend Arkansas law concerning occupational and criminal background checks. The bill proposed that an individual could not be disqualified from receiving an occupational or professional license based solely or partly on a prior criminal conviction. Disqualification would only be permitted if the past crime directly related to the duties and responsibilities of that specific occupation. This would have affected individuals with prior convictions seeking licensed professions in Arkansas.