Senate Bill 598 amends various Arkansas laws related to the Division of Workforce Services and the definition of "employee." It establishes a specific "twenty-factor test," based on federal regulations, to determine if an individual is an employee or an independent contractor. This test guides employers and agencies when making employment status determinations for various purposes. The bill applies this updated standard to definitions of "employee" under the Workers' Compensation Law, wage discrimination laws, and other statutes administered by the Division of Workforce Services.
Senate Bill 449 grants civil immunity to law enforcement officers, school employees, and other individuals in positions of trust or authority over a minor. This immunity applies when they confiscate alternative nicotine products, vapor products, e-liquid products, tobacco products, or cigarette papers from a minor at a school. The bill defines "minor" as a person under 21 and "school" broadly to include school property and school-sponsored events. This protection from civil liability does not extend to the confiscation of medical devices or medications, such as asthma inhalers.
SB 439, now Act 737, amends the duties of the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Licensing. It also modifies specific sections of Arkansas Code that originated from Initiated Act 1 of 1914, which typically pertains to workers' compensation laws. An amendment to the bill clarifies that a new section within the act will supersede any conflicting existing laws once it becomes effective. The provided text, however, does not detail the specific changes to the Secretary's duties or the workers' compensation provisions.
Senate Bill 460 modifies the structure or functions of the existing Compliance Advisory Panel. It specifically repeals the Marketing Recyclables Program, which operated under this panel. The bill includes an emergency clause, allowing its provisions to take effect immediately upon becoming law. The provided text, however, does not detail the specific changes made to the panel or the precise mechanisms of the program's repeal.
Senate Bill 446 amends the Automatic License Plate Reader System Act to expand who can use these systems. The bill now allows private landowners, private leaseholders, and commercial businesses to utilize automatic license plate readers (ALPRs). These private entities can use ALPRs for purposes such as promoting public safety, deterring crime, and monitoring access to their private property. The legislation stipulates that private entities must destroy captured plate data after 60 days, while most governmental entities have a 150-day retention limit. Private users are prohibited from selling or trading captured plate data for commercial purposes, though it can be shared with third-party processors for asset protection under specific contractual terms.
SB 574 (now Act 742) requires a municipality that operates a waterworks or sewage system to provide service to county property. This means if a county property falls within the jurisdiction of a municipal water or sewage system, the municipality must offer those services. The bill specifies this requirement applies in "certain instances," though the details of those instances are not provided in the given text.
SB 567, now Act 719, amends Arkansas's Multistate Tax Compact and Uniform Division of Income for Tax Purposes Act. This legislation modernizes the rules for how income from businesses operating in multiple states is divided for tax purposes. A key change is the method for sourcing receipts from services and intangible assets, shifting from a "cost of performance" approach to a "market-based sourcing" approach. This affects multistate businesses that generate income within Arkansas by changing how their income is apportioned for state tax purposes.
Senate Bill 504 establishes the Arkansas Rural Preceptorship Program Act, designed to address the shortage of physicians in the state's rural areas. This program provides funding for medical students to complete preceptorships, or clinical placements, in participating rural clinics, hospitals, and healthcare facilities. Eligible medical institutions include the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine. The Division of Higher Education will administer the program, reimbursing participating institutions at a per diem rate for up to three weeks of a student's placement, with funding from public or private sources.
This bill, now Act 739, modifies Arkansas law concerning the investment of state funds managed by the State Treasury. It revises the specific types of securities and bank deposits the Treasurer of State can invest in, including reducing the requirement for corporate obligations to be rated by one nationally recognized statistical rating organization instead of two. The act also clarifies that the competitive procedures for purchasing and selling securities should prioritize optimal price and value without favoring any broker. Finally, it specifies the timing for distributing earned interest from these investments to state agencies, boards, and commissions.
Senate Bill 429, now Act 665, enhances protections for victims of human trafficking in Arkansas. It allows victims of human trafficking to petition for the sealing of prostitution convictions that occurred as a result of their trafficking, regardless of whether they were a minor or an adult at the time of the offense. The bill also mandates that courts issue a no-contact order for defendants charged with offenses under the Human Trafficking Act of 2013. Additionally, it updates state code definitions to include human trafficking offenses in the scope of "victim" and "offense against a victim who is a minor."
SB 547, now Act 728, repeals the requirement that a homeschooled student must live within a twenty-five-mile radius of a private school to participate in its interscholastic activities. This bill directly affects homeschooled students in Arkansas by removing a geographic barrier for joining extracurriculars at private schools. While the residency requirement is lifted, homeschooled students must still notify the private school and demonstrate academic eligibility to participate.
Senate Bill 183, now Act 724, amends the Universal ACT Assessment Program Act, expanding the types of assessments public schools may provide to students. It redefines "Assessment" to include tests like the ACT, SAT, CLT, and various preliminary tests such as the PreACT and PSAT. Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, public schools must offer students a choice of one preliminary assessment in grades 9 or 10, and a choice of the ACT, SAT, or CLT in grade 11, at no charge. Additionally, the bill requires public schools to offer the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) upon a student's request.
