The proposed legislation establishes "capital rape" as a distinct offense in Arkansas, defined as engaging in sexual intercourse or deviate sexual activity with a person aged thirteen or younger under specific circumstances, such as causing serious physical injury or using a deadly weapon. The bill outlines various scenarios that constitute capital rape, including instances where the perpetrator has a prior conviction for rape or capital rape. Penalties for capital rape are severe, with individuals aged eighteen or older facing the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole, while those under eighteen may receive life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after twenty years. The bill also amends existing Arkansas Code to include capital rape in various legal contexts, such as the classification of felonies and the prosecution timeline, allowing for prosecution at any time.

Additionally, the bill updates the application process for executive clemency, requiring notification to the victim's next of kin when a pardon or commutation is sought for capital offenses. It specifies that defendants with intellectual disabilities cannot be sentenced to death for capital offenses and outlines procedures for determining such disabilities. The legislation also includes provisions that terminate a putative father's rights to custody or visitation with a child conceived from a rape upon conviction, expands the definition of "delinquent juvenile" to include those charged with capital rape, and mandates sex offender screening for juveniles adjudicated delinquent for certain sexual offenses. Overall, the bill aims to strengthen legal measures against serious sexual offenses and enhance the accountability of juvenile offenders while ensuring the protection of vulnerable populations.

Statutes affected:
SB 375: 5-1-109(a), 5-1-110(d), 5-3-203(1), 5-3-301(b), 5-3-404, 5-4-104(b), 5-4-104(d), 5-4-106(b), 5-4-301(a), 5-4-501(c), 5-4-501(d), 5-4-601, 5-10-101, 5-51-201, 5-14-114, 5-4-602, 5-4-607, 5-4-608, 5-4-604, 5-4-605, 5-4-607(a), 5-4-618(b), 5-4-702(a), 5-4-801(2), 5-10-101(a), 5-14-103(c), 5-14-103, 5-42-203(4), 5-54-105(b), 5-73-202(1), 5-74-103(2), 5-74-202(2), 5-79-101(a), 6-17-410(c), 6-17-414(b), 9-10-121(a), 9-27-303(15), 9-27-318(b), 9-27-318(c), 9-27-356(a), 5-14-124, 5-14-125, 5-26-202, 5-27-303, 9-27-357(a), 9-27-501(a), 9-27-502(b), 9-27-507(b), 9-27-507(e), 9-27-510(c), 9-28-409(e), 11-5-115(a), 12-12-104(f), 12-12-313(e), 12-12-903(13), 12-12-919(a), 12-12-904, 13-4-409(c), 16-33-305, 16-42-103(d), 16-80-104(a), 16-87-205(c), 16-87-212(c), 16-87-218(c), 16-90-803(b), 16-90-1101(6), 16-91-110(b), 16-91-202(e), 16-93-204(d), 16-93-207(d), 16-93-615(b), 16-93-621(a), 16-93-702(b), 16-93-1802(1), 16-118-118(a), 17-3-102(a), 17-3-102(e), 17-17-312(f), 18-16-112(a), 20-13-1106(a), 20-38-105(c), 21-15-102(f), 21-15-102(g), 21-15-103(g), 21-15-103(h), 21-15-104(c)
Act 662: 5-1-109(a), 5-1-110(d), 5-3-203(1), 5-3-301(b), 5-3-404, 5-4-104(b), 5-4-104(d), 5-4-106(b), 5-4-301(a), 5-4-501(c), 5-4-501(d), 5-4-601, 5-10-101, 5-51-201, 5-14-114, 5-4-602, 5-4-607, 5-4-608, 5-4-604, 5-4-605, 5-4-607(a), 5-4-618(b), 5-4-702(a), 5-4-801(2), 5-10-101(a), 5-14-103(c), 5-14-103, 5-42-203(4), 5-54-105(b), 5-73-202(1), 5-74-103(2), 5-74-202(2), 5-79-101(a), 6-17-410(c), 6-17-414(b), 9-10-121(a), 9-27-303(15), 9-27-318(b), 9-27-318(c), 9-27-356(a), 5-14-124, 5-14-125, 5-26-202, 5-27-303, 9-27-357(a), 9-27-501(a), 9-27-502(b), 9-27-507(b), 9-27-507(e), 9-27-510(c), 9-28-409(e), 11-5-115(a), 12-12-104(f), 12-12-313(e), 12-12-903(13), 12-12-919(a), 12-12-904, 13-4-409(c), 16-33-305, 16-42-103(d), 16-80-104(a), 16-87-205(c), 16-87-212(c), 16-87-218(c), 16-90-803(b), 16-90-1101(6), 16-91-110(b), 16-91-202(e), 16-93-204(d), 16-93-207(d), 16-93-615(b), 16-93-621(a), 16-93-702(b), 16-93-1802(1), 16-118-118(a), 17-3-102(a), 17-3-102(e), 17-17-312(f), 18-16-112(a), 20-13-1106(a), 20-38-105(c), 21-15-102(f), 21-15-102(g), 21-15-103(g), 21-15-103(h), 21-15-104(c)