The bill amends the existing laws regarding the criminal offense of sexual indecency with a child in Arkansas. It specifies that prosecution for this offense can commence at any time if it is classified as a felony. Additionally, the bill introduces a new provision that defines sexual indecency with a child as a Class D felony for most offenses, while a specific act of entering or remaining in a public changing facility with a minor of the opposite sex is classified as a Class C misdemeanor. The bill also clarifies the definitions of "sex" and "public changing facility," and outlines exceptions for certain individuals, such as parents or guardians of minors.

Furthermore, the bill includes multiple amendments across various sections of the Arkansas Code, which generally exclude misdemeanor violations of sexual indecency with a child from being classified as sex crimes for purposes of disqualification from employment, licensure, and other legal implications. The amendments ensure that only felony offenses related to sexual indecency with a child carry significant legal consequences, thereby refining the legal framework surrounding these offenses and their implications for individuals in various professional and legal contexts.

Statutes affected:
Old version SB270 Original - 2-15-2023 10:56 AM: 5-1-109(a), 5-4-703(a), 5-13-210(f), 5-14-110(a), 5-14-110(b), 5-14-110, 5-14-201(2), 6-17-116(b), 6-17-410(c), 6-17-414(b), 9-28-409(e), 12-12-104(f), 12-12-401(8), 12-12-903(13), 12-12-1103(9), 16-42-101(b), 16-82-101(b), 16-90-1101(6), 16-93-305(a), 16-93-314(b), 17-3-102(a), 17-14-203(12), 18-16-112(a), 20-13-1106(a), 20-16-2402(9), 20-38-105(b), 21-15-102(f), 21-15-103(g), 21-15-104(c), 25-1-112
Old version SB270 V2 - 2-22-2023 09:58 AM: 5-1-109(a), 5-4-703(a), 5-13-210(f), 5-14-110(a), 5-14-110(b), 5-14-110, 5-14-201(2), 6-17-116(b), 6-17-410(c), 6-17-414(b), 9-28-409(e), 12-12-104(f), 12-12-401(8), 12-12-903(13), 12-12-1103(9), 16-42-101(b), 16-82-101(b), 16-90-1101(6), 16-93-305(a), 16-93-314(b), 17-3-102(a), 17-14-203(12), 18-16-112(a), 20-13-1106(a), 20-16-2402(9), 20-38-105(b), 21-15-102(f), 02-22-2023, 21-15-103(g), 21-15-104(c), 25-1-112
Old version SB270 V3 - 2-28-2023 01:39 PM: 5-1-109(a), 5-4-703(a), 5-13-210(f), 5-14-110(a), 5-14-110(b), 5-14-110, 5-14-201(2), 6-17-116(b), 6-17-410(c), 6-17-414(b), 9-28-409(e), 12-12-104(f), 12-12-401(8), 12-12-903(13), 12-12-1103(9), 16-42-101(b), 16-82-101(b), 16-90-1101(6), 16-93-305(a), 16-93-314(b), 17-3-102(a), 17-14-203(12), 18-16-112(a), 20-13-1106(a), 20-16-2402(9), 20-38-105(b), 21-15-102(f), 02-28-2023, 21-15-103(g), 21-15-104(c), 25-1-112
Old version SB270 V4 - 3-2-2023 09:15 AM: 5-1-109(a), 5-4-703(a), 5-13-210(f), 5-14-110(a), 5-14-110(b), 5-14-110, 5-14-201(2), 6-17-116(b), 6-17-410(c), 6-17-414(b), 9-28-409(e), 12-12-104(f), 12-12-401(8), 12-12-903(13), 12-12-1103(9), 16-42-101(b), 16-82-101(b), 16-90-1101(6), 16-93-305(a), 16-93-314(b), 17-3-102(a), 17-14-203(12), 18-16-112(a), 20-13-1106(a), 20-16-2402(9), 20-38-105(b), 21-15-102(f), 03-02-2023, 21-15-103(g), 21-15-104(c), 25-1-112
Old version SB270 V5 - 3-29-2023 10:45 AM: 5-1-109(a), 5-4-703(a), 5-13-210(f), 5-14-110(a), 5-14-110(b), 5-14-110, 5-14-201(2), 6-17-116(b), 6-17-410(c), 03-29-2023, 6-17-414(b), 9-28-409(e), 12-12-104(f), 12-12-401(8), 12-12-903(13), 12-12-1103(9), 16-42-101(b), 16-82-101(b), 16-90-1101(6), 16-93-305(a), 16-93-314(b), 17-3-102(a), 17-14-203(12), 18-16-112(a), 20-13-1106(a), 20-16-2402(9), 20-38-105(b), 21-15-102(f), 21-15-103(g), 21-15-104(c), 25-1-112
SB 270: 5-1-109(a), 5-4-703(a), 5-13-210(f), 5-14-110(a), 5-14-110(b), 5-14-110, 5-14-201(2), 6-17-116(b), 6-17-410(c), 03-29-2023, 6-17-414(b), 9-28-409(e), 12-12-104(f), 12-12-401(8), 12-12-903(13), 12-12-1103(9), 16-42-101(b), 16-82-101(b), 16-90-1101(6), 16-93-305(a), 16-93-314(b), 17-3-102(a), 17-14-203(12), 18-16-112(a), 20-13-1106(a), 20-16-2402(9), 20-38-105(b), 21-15-102(f), 21-15-103(g), 21-15-104(c), 25-1-112
Act 619: 5-1-109(a), 5-4-703(a), 5-13-210(f), 5-14-110(a), 5-14-110(b), 5-14-110, 5-14-201(2), 6-17-116(b), 6-17-410(c), 03-29-2023, 6-17-414(b), 9-28-409(e), 12-12-104(f), 12-12-401(8), 12-12-903(13), 12-12-1103(9), 16-42-101(b), 16-82-101(b), 16-90-1101(6), 16-93-305(a), 16-93-314(b), 17-3-102(a), 17-14-203(12), 18-16-112(a), 20-13-1106(a), 20-16-2402(9), 20-38-105(b), 21-15-102(f), 21-15-103(g), 21-15-104(c), 25-1-112