The proposed bill amends Arkansas law to enhance the construction and development permitting process by allowing third parties, specifically private professional providers, to conduct plan reviews and site inspections. It introduces new definitions such as "complete application," "private professional provider," and "regulatory fee," which clarify the roles of applicants and local governments. The bill requires local government officials to notify applicants within five business days about the completeness of their applications and establishes a timeline for regulatory actions. If local officials cannot meet these timelines, applicants are permitted to hire private providers at their own expense, which will result in a reduction of regulatory fees.

Furthermore, the bill sets forth requirements for private professional providers, including the need for professional liability insurance and the obligation to submit their findings to local governments, which must act on permit applications within ten business days. If the local government fails to respond in this timeframe, the application is automatically approved. The legislation also outlines the responsibilities of local officials and private providers, including immunity from liability for their actions related to reviews and inspections. It restricts local governments from imposing stricter regulations than those in the bill and allows for stop-work orders in cases of public safety threats. The Department of Labor and Licensing is tasked with creating rules to implement these changes, including an appeal process for permitting decisions when no local board of appeals exists.

Statutes affected:
SB 322: 14-1-503, 17-30-101, 17-15-102